by Ranjana Srivastava
NEJM, March 2, 2017
This is a moving and important essay. As physicians, we do not often wonder how caring for patients impacts on our ancillary staff.
“It dawns on me that in all these years I have never wondered how an interpreter copes with giving bad news.”
“Everyone sympathizes with stressed doctors and nurses, but who ever considers interpreter burnout?”
Comments from Ling Poliandro, Mandarin medical interpreter:
Thank you also for forwarding this heartfelt article.While we often were made known of the appreciation of our work, the author strikes me as exceptionally respectful and sensitive. I often thought of becoming an onsite interpreter in the hospitals to be 'most' helpful but I realize the advantages of working at home over the phone far outweigh any in person situation at this time of my life as I can log in and out anytime when I need to, which I've used a few times after some very difficult encounters.