Ethical Scenario

Scenario

You are working as an interpreter in the local high school. One day the police made a locker search and find the weapons in the locker of one of the Deaf students for whom you interpret. The principal calls you to the office and tells you to interpret for the police interrogation. 

​

​

Identify the Problems: 

• The police ask the interpreter to interpret for the interrogation. The deaf client is being searched.

• The police are searching for weapons. 

​

​

Construct a solution:

The interpreter could: find a qualified legal interpreter to interpreter the interrogation.

The interpreter could: refuse to interpret the interrogation.

The interpreter could: find another interpreter that has experience with legal interpreting. 

​

​

The interpreter should

Find a qualified legal interpreter to interpret the interrogation. 

​

​

Which CPC's support your decision?

(4.0) Respect for consumers. The interpreter respects the consumer to only interpret for what they are qualified to interpret for but also finds them another interpreter.

​

(6.1) Accurately represent qualifications such as certification, educational background, experience and provide documentation when requested. The interpreter knows they lack the qualifications in legal settings so they find another interpreter. 

​

(3.3) Avoid performing dual or conflicting roles. The interpreter acts as the student educational interpreter and knows that this situation goes past their role as an educational interpreter because they are not qualified for the legal setting.

​

(2.0) Interpreters demonstrate professionalism at all times. The interpreter remains professional by not interpreting for the client.

​

(2.6) Judiciously provide information or referral. The interpreter refers them to find a qualified legal interpreter.

 

​

Short Term Benefits: 

Deaf: finds an interpreter that is qualified for legal interpreting. 

​

Hearing: understands that interpreters need to be qualified, not just one interpreter can fit all the different settings, and they must be qualified. 

​

Interpreter: follow’s the CPC’s and doesn’t interpret for the client because they are not qualified. 

​

Interpreting community: gives another qualified legal interpreter the opportunity to interpret the interrogation. 

​

​

​

Long Term Benefits: 

Deaf: finds an interpreter that is qualified for legal interpreting, feels respect for the interpreter for not interpreting the interrogation that they are not qualified for.

 

Hearing: understands the role of interpreters and can still have the services interpreted by someone who is qualified to do so.

​

Interpreter: The interpreter doesn’t get in a sticky situation for interpreting for the interrogation that they are not qualified for. 

​

Interpreting Community: sets a standard for other interpreters to know to not accept assignments that they are not qualified for.

​

​

Closing Statement:

If I were the interpreter in this situation and given new information a few things may change but I will always uphold the standards of the CPC’s.

​

​

​