Principles
When it is OK
The doctor and patient share a common mother (or other mutually fluent) tongue and both find it easier to communicate with each other in that language. The doctor can add value to the consultation by accommodating the patient’s language needs, which may include signing. The consultation is patient-led. Check at the start of the consultation which language the patient would prefer for their consultation and make a note of that in the patient record. The entry made in the clinical record must be to the same standard as any other clinical consultation, regardless of the language used during the consultation. Where an accompanying person is the patient’s carer, the doctor should ensure that they explain the consultation and any actions needed in the language the accompanying person understands. When it is not OK
If asked by a carer or other accompanying person, not the patient, unless the patient lacks capacity: the patient themselves must, wherever feasible, be empowered to choose the language of consultation when more than one option is possible. For any member of the primary care team to speak with another in the presence of any patient in a language other than English that the patient does not understand. To use when a doctor agrees to video consultations for future review with their clinical supervisor, unless the supervisor is also fluent in that language.
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