Schleifer Roman, Dittmann Volker, Ebner Gerhard, Seifritz Erich, Liebrenz Michael
Gutachtenstelle für Zivil- und Öffentlichrechtliche Fragestellungen, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik der Psychiatrischen Universitätsklinik Zürich.
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Basel.
Praxis (Bern 1994). 2015 Mar 11;104(6):293-300. doi: 10.1024/1661-8157/a001915.
Limited knowledge of the German language represents a serious barrier for migrants into Switzerland to communicate successfully in a variety of health care settings, which may result not just in delayed access to treatment and poorer outcome, but also in difficulties judging eligibility for health and other social benefits. Especially when conducting disability and other occupational capacity evaluations, clinicians of all medical fields, but particularly psychiatrists, are required to obtain abundant information to allow them to perform a thorough mental health examination and to form a differentiated view of an evaluee's work capacity. Within a clinical context different translation and interpreting strategies are in use, and each strategy has its advantages and disadvantages. This mini-review describes the legal and modal aspects as well as the clinical-practical implications of the use of such interpreting services during disability evaluations.