Publication
Health Law Checkup – May 2012
Physicians Required to Provide Interpretive Services to Non-English Speaking Patients
By Anne W. Bishop
Health care providers often wonder if and when they must provide interpretive services to patients who do not speak English or who are deaf or hearing impaired. Federal law mandates that health care providers take certain steps to provide interpretive services. The roots of this issue are in the physician’s need to communicate effectively with patients so that patients may make informed decisions about their health care.
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Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 17 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and San Diego, California; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos, Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit swlaw.com.
