Op-Ed: Does your doctor speak your language?

In the absence of clear standards and language proficiency tests, it can be hard for doctors to assess accurately their own language skills.

Op-Ed: Does Your Doctor Speak Your Language?

Los Angeles Times – by Mimi Zheng

Imagine that you woke up with weakness in your right arm and difficulty speaking. You’re a Spanish speaker and you go to the emergency room, where the doctor attending to you took Spanish in high school. Because the ER is busy, he decides he can get by without an interpreter. You tell him about your symptoms, and that you are worried you might be having a stroke. The doctor understands the Spanish word for “arm” but is not clear about the rest. After a quick physical exam, he sends you to get X-rays to rule out a broken arm. Meanwhile, your condition worsens.

Read the whole story on latimes.com

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