Idiot Hospitals and the ADA law.

G'day Everyone!

Jamie has posted a good article on deafness.about.com today. Link: http://deafness.about.com/b/2008/09/26/deaf-should-bring-friendsfamily-to-hospital-no-interpreter.htm#gB3

Now there's a few reasons why Hospitals ask to bring family/friends to assist in being an interpreter. It isn't about cost, but it's rather about gathering medical history of the deaf patient and teaching them to help care for the patient at home after release from the hospital.

But hospitals should show some sensitivity to the deaf patient that IS ABLE TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS! Interpreters are needed, yes!

There was a time during a hospital stay not too long ago, I had to have my mom REMOVED from the room because I wanted to talk to the doctor privately. The doctor was against that decision. Unfortunately, I asked him two questions: "How's your LIL? (aka: License, Insurance, Lawyer) Would you be ready for a L-A-W-S-U-I-T?". He knew very well that I could file a complaint against him and the hospital. My mom quickly told the doctor: "My dear man, (in her sweetest tone), do what my son says. Just use a pen and paper and communicate with that!". Then she excused herself from the room.
I hate to threaten lawsuit. But there's a time deaf patients need to ask PERSONAL medical decision questions alone with the doctor. It is suppose to let the deaf patient build a rapport with the doctor in a one-on-one basis. If a doctor doesn't build that rapport, then he's got trouble.
The ADA law exists for a reason: Communication accessible in all situations. Hospitals ought to budget carefully. If they have staff members who can speak other languages, then they can afford to have some staff members to LEARN sign languages as well.

Hospitals in Rochester, NY and the Washington, DC metro areas are the greatest areas where deaf people live because of the major deaf colleges. Even towns that have a deaf schools, hospitals should beef up their staff to learn sign language. WHY? Because in emergency situations, every second is going to be critical to save a deaf patient. Interpreters are not always on-call for an emergency event.

I hope hospitals take the lessons to the heart. Communication accessible makes a difference for all deaf patients. It plays an important part of their overall healing and health.

Semper FI.