ABA Family Legal Guide

Health-Care Law

Patients' Rights

Informed Consent

What if a patient can't speak English?

Informed consent is the right of all patients, including those who are physically disabled or tourists and immigrants who do not speak English. The law requires that doctors and facilities take steps to ensure that these people are fully informed as to their treatment options before the treatment begins. For example, deaf people have the right to have someone communicate with them using sign language. If the person does not speak English, an interpreter usually will be used to ensure that the patient understands the illness or injury and the treatment options. The interpreter that is most commonly used today is a phone service that provides interpretation in dozens of languages.