Working with Interpreters

Principles

  • Use accredited interpreters for consent and significant discussions
  • Avoid family members, above all children
  • TIS National provides phone interpreting on 131 450
  • Auslan interpreters for Deaf patients
  • Interpreters are free in public hospitals, and through TIS for Medicare funded private consultations
  • Use a professional interpreter even when the patient speaks some English, as pain and stress reduce comprehension
  • Telephone and video interpreting suit short or urgent discussions
  • Check the preferred language and dialect, which may differ from country of birth

Technique

  • Brief the interpreter before the consultation
  • Face and speak to the patient, not the interpreter
  • Use short sentences and pause for interpretation
  • Avoid jargon and check understanding with teach back
  • Allow extra time
  • Use first person speech so the interpreter relays exact words
  • Avoid side conversations with the interpreter
  • Use translated written information where available
  • Seat the interpreter beside or slightly behind the patient

Documentation

  • Record that an interpreter was used, with name or ID and mode
  • Note if the patient declined an interpreter and why
  • Record the language and dialect

Consent

  • Consent obtained through a family member may not be valid
  • The interpreter conveys the discussion, the surgeon obtains consent
  • Document the risks discussed and the questions asked
  • Book an interpreter for postoperative review where possible

Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.