www.ada.gov/duluth.htm This states that St Mary's in Duluth MUST have a deaf and hard of hearing coordinator who can identify all employees qualified to help deaf patients (i.e. nurses, etc.) who are trained on auxilary aids (interpreters, etc.) post information throughout the facilities about that, etc-- to be sure somebody on the team is on call 24/7 to help out. Why did this lawsuit happen? Simply enough, there was an interpreter screw-up for a surgery. The patient was released the same day with written instructions alone, NO interpreted conversations with a nurse or doctor so they could ask questions; the patient was still groggy and the wife couldn't understand the nurse at all. Thls lawsuit also states that family or friends can't be forced to interpret in lieu of the hospital providing appropriate services.
www.ada.gov/fairview.html many deaf people were deprived of qualified sign language interpreters at Fairview. In one case, a wife had to step in.
The Star Tribune in this article explains the real cost of lack of communication to the deaf patients involved: not knowing about terminal cancer for months after it was diagnosed; patients not being able to ask or be communicated to regarding the medications taken; hospitals failing to follow through on doctors' requests for interpreting.
I myself like everything in writing, but qualified interpreters can make Q&A go smoothly, as well as test procedures so much easier. A few clear questions can clarify confusing written information in a few seconds. But interpreting isn't the only answer. Qualified medical personnel who are trained to work with the deaf are the answer. We literally need on-staff nurse practicioners, nurses, social workers, and administrators who can sign directly to deaf patients and are certified and qualified to interpret if no interpreting is available, who can understand and follow up on complaints concerning contract interpreters, etc.