Notes, Notings, and Common Refrains

Here's the sad thing: it's really not over the top AT ALL. I never did that much educational-based interpreting; my area was more computers and medicine. The ridiculous things the docs would say .... well, we know the crap they say to our faces, right. Why should it be any different when it's being interpreted.

"Is she retarded?"
I'm not qualified to make the judgement. I am here to facilitate communication
"How would you judge her cognitive level"
I'm not qualified to make the judgement. I am here to facilitate communication
"Do you think she needs to know about birth control?"
I'm not qualified to make the judgement. I am here to facilitate communication

But it made me appreciate just how frightening it is to rely on another person's ethics* for one's health care.

* That would be the interpreter. Because there were certainly folks who felt they had been called to Serve the Deaf, and that meant making better decisions for them. The instructors worked really hard to squelch that sort of attitude, but it's part and parcel of the "special needs" ideology.