Use of Children as Medical Interpreters in California Examined
"California Connected" -- a weekly, hourlong newsmagazine produced by PBS stations in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco that covers state events and issues -- on Friday in the first of a three-part series on California's children entitled, "Kids For Real," examined the use of children by hospitals in the state to translate "complex and sometimes embarrassing" medical information to their family members. According to KVIE, the "linguistic diversity" of California, where more foreign languages are spoken than in any other state in the country, is an "especially daunting challenge" to health care professionals who must communicate about health care issues with non-English-speaking patients.
The segment profiles 10-year-old Maria and 12-year-old Sikandar, who both are "confused" about their medical conditions and the "strange" terminology they must translate to their mother (Shelley, "California Connected," KVIE, 9/16).
Video of the segment in Quicktime media format is available online. An interview with the program's producer about the segment is also available online in Quicktime media format.