Kids Learn Medical Translation To Help Older Relatives

BOSTON -- Local bilingual children are being called on more and more to translate for parents at doctor's appointments, so one local school is offering a medical translation program for students.
NewsCenter 5's Bianca de la Garza reported Brockton High School is just one of two schools in the state offering the medical translations class to students.
Student Natalie Campos remembers taking her Spanish-speaking grandmother to dialysis. At 15, she had no choice but to translate for her.
"She didn't speak one word of English," Campos said. "You kind of do feel stressed out because you want what best for them."
Brockton High School's Jane Rizzitano helped bring the program to the school.
"It's risky when you have students translating. It can put patients in jeopardy," she said.
She agreed with critics who said untrained children interpreting is dangerous, but added it's been happening for years.
Most large hospitals staff their own translators, who, by law, must be 18 or older.

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