What is the appropriate policy regarding providing medical advice or disclaimers as an interpreter?

• A. Interpreters should provide medical advice if they believe it's beneficial.
• B. Interpreters should not provide medical advice or disclaimers.
• C. Interpreters can give disclaimers only for minor issues.
• D. Interpreters must always provide disclaimers.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining role boundaries is essential: as an interpreter you are a conduit for information, not a source of medical advice or personal judgments. Providing medical advice or adding disclaimers shifts authority away from the clinician and can introduce incorrect information or liability. The appropriate approach is to faithfully render what the clinician and patient say, without altering meaning or offering your own recommendations. If medical guidance is needed, it comes from the clinician, not the interpreter, so the focus stays on accurate translation and clear communication. If the clinician includes a disclaimer, you translate it accurately, but you don’t add your own disclaimers or interpretive caveats beyond what is stated.