LANGUAGE BARRIERS INFORMED CONSENT AND THE SURGICAL PATIENT'S OUTCOME AT FRERE HOSPITAL

  • OO Oduwole University of the Free State
  • FH Terblanche University of the Free State
  • M Nel University of the Free State
  • LA Hiemstra University of the Free State

Abstract

To the Editor: South Africa has eleven official languages and the majority of its population is non-English speaking. Doctors need to communicate with patients from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds and must convey information so that patients can understand it. In a multilingual society, doctors have to rely on an interpreter to communicate with patients. The following problems may, however, be encountered when using an interpreter: loss of part of the information, failure to convey the importance of some information, reduced emotion and empathy between doctor and patient, the addition of information which may not have been given by the patient or doctor, and the absence of the privacy and confidentiality of the patient. As a result, the patient might withhold relevant, culturally-sensitive information.

Author Biographies

OO Oduwole, University of the Free State
Department of Family Medicine
FH Terblanche, University of the Free State
Department of Communication
M Nel, University of the Free State
Department of Biostatistics
LA Hiemstra, University of the Free State
Department of Family Medicine
Issue
Vol 45 No 9 (2003)
Section
Scientific letters
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