Only in California

[The Grim Reefer]

They passed a law that prohibits a child 15 or yournger from acting as an interpreter for their parent who doesn't speak english should they need medical care. The result of the law is health care providers will have to hire interpreters to provide the service. I was just looking and the california court system pays 265.00 per day or from 30 to 66 grand a year for a interpreter who must be fluent in english and 1 other language. I think I am going to tell my kid to go learn a couple other languages and move to Cal

[Ninong]

Do you have a link? Is that a recently passed law?

This is something that the medical profession in California has been requesting for the past several years now. Based on what you are saying, it appears that they got only part of what they were asking. At least they won't have to deal with children as interpreters in matters of medical care. They were pushing for professional medical interpreters to handle all medical care interpretation.

Although any bilingual individual could interpret, a profession dedicated to the demands and nuances of health care interpreting has developed in recent years. Professional health care interpreters have been trained in health care interpreting, adhere to professional ethics and protocols, are knowledgeable about medical terminology, and can accurately and completely render communication from one language to another.

The practice of using family members as interpreters has come under increasing criticism for the compromised confidentiality, lack of experience and medical knowledge that can lead to medical errors, and the unfair burden on children.

[The Grim Reefer]

I saw the story on the news about the interpreters being required now. They are basing that on the law that was passed not allowing the kids to interpret. They are talking about all the HMO's getting together and creating a video call center where they can have a group of interpretaters doing the work using a video linkup. How about we do something totally radical like require people moving to this country learn english? At least it would cut down on the numbers needed.

I think it is pretty stupid to disalow a child from acting. What if there is no interpreter available? The docs are supposed to wait until the official interpreter arrives when the kid could at least give them enough info to get started.

Here is the link for the court system. They only encourage people to take a college level course on language interpretation. Doesn't sound like there are any specific education requirements. http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs...eters/faq1.htm

Seems to me the medical interpreters should only need the language skills as well, it is up to the doc to make the diagnosis. I mean if a redneck moves to LA do they have to hire an interpreter to make the doc understand "I et me a bunch of green naners and have me a big'ol gut boil"?

[Ninong]

I think it is pretty stupid to disalow a child from acting. What if there is no interpreter available? The docs are supposed to wait until the official interpreter arrives when the kid could at least give them enough info to get started.

Is that what the law says? Do you have a link to the law itself? I find it difficult to imagine that emergency medical personnel would be forbidden from speaking to the child in a medical emergency if there was no bilingual person aged 15 or over available but that's what you are saying.

It would help to read the law itself and not someone like Rush Windbag's interpretation of it, if that's where this tidbit originated. I googled it and couldn't find it anywhere. All I found was the article from 2003 that talked about the medical profession's desire to require professional medical interpreters.

[schrocat]

huh...

Leland Yee proposed AB 292...like maybe 2002-2003?

And yes...there was an emergency provision. Unlike some medical laws\deed restrictions going around lately.

If anyone opposed it, their opposition was probably due to the 15 million in funds required to pull it off.
There was one guy who pops up opposing it repeatedly...hmmm, I wonder what party he's fro...uh-oh nevermind.

enjoy.

Did somebody step in some Hannity and drag it into the house?
I can't find squat on this AB since Nov of 05...

[schrocat]

here it is...

SB 853
The video conference was merely a suggestion btw.

...and it's not only in California. RI has similar scenarios.

15 million well spent IMO.

[Ninong]

schrocat,

Do you mean to say that if a non-English speaking person (who happened to get into this country -- legally, of course) is having a heart attack, it might be OK for the EMERGENCY responders to talk to his 14-year-old child if the child is bilingual? Shocking! I never would have believed something like that could happen in California.

Before you know it, all 36 million Californians will want to move to Montana. I hear there's a lot of open space there, what with a total population well under 1 million. Bet most of them speak English, too.

:eek3:

[Ninong]

schrocat,

Thanks for the link to SB 853. Looks like it's a law requiring a certain level of language assistance at HMO's, with the requirements adjusted depending on the number of members in the HMO (e.g., over 1 million, under 300,000, etc.).

Thank goodness it doesn't prohibit EMERGENCY personnel from talking to someone's 14-year-old child in the event of an emergency as reported in the opening post of this thread. That did sound rather draconian for a relatively progressive state like California (well, except for Orange County).

[schrocat]

schrocat,

Do you mean to say that if a non-English speaking person (who happened to get into this country -- legally, of course) is having a heart attack, it might be OK for the EMERGENCY responders to talk to his 14-year-old child if the child is bilingual? Shocking! I never would have believed something like that could happen in California.

Before you know it, all 36 million Californians will want to move to Montana. I hear there's a lot of open space there, what with a total population well under 1 million. Bet most of them speak English, too.

:eek3:

Yes. From what I've read, nobody watches grandma die waiting for a tranlator of legal age.

A pre-teen having to be the first one told, and the deliverer of the news to their mother regarding her inoperable brain cancer should be avoided if possible.
It's a reflection of compassion.

As far as "speak English or die" goes...I wish grandma would have learned English, but the bilingual child does show some effort.
I say let gammy live! Thumbs up!

[The Grim Reefer]

Is that what the law says? Do you have a link to the law itself? I find it difficult to imagine that emergency medical personnel would be forbidden from speaking to the child in a medical emergency if there was no bilingual person aged 15 or over available but that's what you are saying.

It would help to read the law itself and not someone like Rush Windbag's interpretation of it, if that's where this tidbit originated. I googled it and couldn't find it anywhere. All I found was the article from 2003 that talked about the medical profession's desire to require professional medical interpreters.

I actually heard about this on TV, not from the gasbag. I found a link to the law that this is stemming from http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/..._asm_comm.html.

The law does have an emergency provision so the doc can use a kid if it is an emergency. Of course now you have to define "emergency"

[The Grim Reefer]

schrocat,

Do you mean to say that if a non-English speaking person (who happened to get into this country -- legally, of course) is having a heart attack, it might be OK for the EMERGENCY responders to talk to his 14-year-old child if the child is bilingual? Shocking! I never would have believed something like that could happen in California.

Before you know it, all 36 million Californians will want to move to Montana. I hear there's a lot of open space there, what with a total population well under 1 million. Bet most of them speak English, too.

:eek3:

Let em move to Montana, Im heading for Colorado

The way it's been growing around here I would say it is at a million, excluding sheep of course.

[romunov]

Slovene-English-Slovene interpreter anyone? And I'm cheaper than $265/day.

[ANGRY JOHN]

now all we need is a sign that says will work for fish funds. seems a lot of reefers would like the extra cash. my electricity bill could use a serious reduction.

[The Grim Reefer]

Used to be a guy here with a sign that said "Why lie, I need a beer". He actually did pretty well. If we had a sign saying "Need money for reef supplies" we'd probably get hit up for buds from most people.