Code of Ethics for Healthcare Interpreters

See how experienced medical interpreters apply ethics in real healthcare settings to support accurate communication, protect patient trust, and strengthen interpreter decision-making. 

Watch the recording to hear practical examples, real-world challenges, and expert guidance that can help you grow your skills and confidence as a medical interpreter.

Key Takeaways 

• The code of ethics is the foundation of professional healthcare interpreting. It sets clear expectations for accuracy, confidentiality, professionalism, and the interpreter’s role in patient care. 

• Ethics in practice requires quick, informed decision-making. Strong interpreters do more than know the principles. They apply the Code of Ethics in real time to support clear, safe, and complete communication. 

• Accuracy includes meaning, context, and medically relevant clarification. The discussion highlights how interpreters may need to address implied meaning or clarify healthcare concepts when misunderstanding could affect care. 

• The profession continues to evolve. Updates in technology and telehealth are shaping how ethical standards are understood and applied today. 

• Ongoing training matters. Interpreters who invest in continued education, healthcare knowledge, and reflective practice are better prepared to handle complex sessions with confidence. 

Meet the Panelists 

• Elsa U.: A Portuguese interpreter with AMN Healthcare. 

• Lorena C.: A Spanish and ASL interpreter and the Instructional Design Manager for interpreter training at AMN Healthcare. 

• Samantha R.: A member of the Talent Acquisition team for AMN Healthcare Language Services. 

Full Transcript 

[3:52 Natalia J.]: Hello everybody. Welcome to our show, Making Meaning live show. My name is Natalia Jiron and I am your host. I am a Spanish interpreter, but I'm also a member of the talent acquisition team. Now, here with me on video, we have Sasha who's interpreting and also co-interpreting with Shawn. Thank you to you both because without you we would not be able to get through this today. Thank you very much to the folks at home—please, we have a chat here. We would love to hear from you. Let us know where you're joining us from. We want to hear your questions, your comments, and how we're going to get to them as we go along. 

[4:32 Natalia J.]: Today's topic is actually a very interesting one. It's a very important one to us interpreters. It's the code of ethics for healthcare interpreters. We're going to be diving deep into insight about the code of ethics for medical interpreters and how it has evolved along with the profession. We're going to talk about the code of ethics, the overview, ethics in practice, the evolution of the code, and some stories from the field. 

[5:08 Natalia J.]: Now remember, if you want to be a member of the AMN team, the most important thing to keep in mind is to apply now at amnhealthcare.com/interpreters. And I'm going to be saying that as we go along. So to be able to talk about the code of ethics, we have a great panel that have decided to join us and we're very pleased to have them. So without much further ado, let's bring out our great panel of guests. Hello, ladies, welcome and thank you. Thank you for being with us. You are the expert speakers. You're going to be helping us out. So let's take some time to introduce yourselves. We would love to hear who you are. Elsa, let's begin with you—think you're on mute. 

[5:53 Elsa U.]: OK. My name is Elsa Ugarte. I am a Portuguese interpreter. I have been with AMN for just about four years and I'm a mom of a four year— a five year old now—and I really have a passion for interpreting and for helping people. 

[6:15 Natalia J.]: Thank you. Thank you guys and I know you do it very well. Elsa is one of our very good interpreters. Lorena, tell us about yourself. 

[6:24 Lorena C.]: Yes, I am also a Spanish interpreter, also an ASL interpreter. So I am trilingual, I've been working with AMN for a long time, over 10 years, and I also have a 5 year old. So Elsa, I relate to you. Currently, I work as the instructional design manager, which just basically means I support a team of instructional designers to develop ongoing training for interpreters at AMN. 

[6:52 Natalia J.]: Thank you. Thank you, Lorena, very qualified member indeed. And Samantha, tell us about you. 

[6:58 Samantha R.]: Hi everyone. My name is Samantha Ryan. I have been with AMN for about 7 1/2 years. I've been with talent acquisition specifically on the language services side for about 5 years. I will soon be relating to our panel as well because I'm a soon to be mom. So thanks for being here. 

[7:19 Natalia J.]: Thank you and congratulations Sam on that upcoming baby. We're all very happy for you. We already have some people joining in. We have Asmath Ullah from Bangladesh, Rohingya medical interpreter. And Jennifer Rodriguez is also joining us from Costa Rica. So thank you, Jennifer, for taking some time to join us today. And please, everybody, just tell us where you're watching us from. We really do want to hear from you. 

[7:45 Natalia J.]: OK, so let's get to it today. Let's start talking about the topic and meeting the panel. We're going to begin with Lorena. Can you tell us about your love for language and how that has impacted your career? 

[7:58 Lorena C.]: What a great question. So, I didn't start out loving languages. It wasn't something that I woke up one day and was like, I'm going to learn ASL. It actually happened because I wanted to meet and connect with others, connecting with the Deaf community was such an amazing experience for me. And then I realized, hey, I need to learn this language so that we can understand each other. And so that informed my other decisions. And what I've realized over time is that learning the words itself is not necessarily pleasant. It sometimes takes a lot of work. But I think the outcome of connecting to various cultures and seeing things from different perspectives, that's really what brings a lot of joy and connection. And it allows us to do important things like, in my case, volunteer work, but also in doing things that I love and working with people that I really love. 

[8:49 Host Natalia J.]: That's a great answer about languages. And it's so, so true. Thank you for sharing that. Elsa, can you take us through your journey to becoming an interpreter in the healthcare field? 

[9:01 Elsa U.]: So I became an interpreter as a lot of interpreters by coincidence. It wasn't something that I planned. I didn't study in the university or go to college for interpreting. I am also trilingual. Like Lorena, I was raised moving around the world, so I at a very young age I had the opportunity of living in Brazil. So, I'm fluent in Portuguese, but I'm originally from Peru, so at home we speak Spanish. And then I lived here in the U.S. as a teenager, and I went to college here. So, I lived in many countries. And my mom did something wonderful for us, which is she made sure that whichever country we lived in, we were in an American school to make sure that we didn't learn a little bit of this, a little bit of that and a little bit of this. But she wanted us to have really clear languages, so Spanish and English. And because we were, we spent a lot of time in Brazil, I learned Portuguese. I always felt the need of wanting to do something with my languages. And I met another medical interpreter and I thought it was fantastic. And I really love, I've always had this calling to try to help. And there's this moment when you walk into the session or when you join the session virtually where you can see the tension in the patient's body. And then they'll hear your introduction in English. And then when they hear you speak in their language, there's this moment of total relief, like, oh, someone's here to help me. And that was my hook. And I was hooked ever since. 

[10:37 Host Natalia J.]: Yeah, well, mom did a good job. Mom's always know best. So yeah, it's good that you are trained. Sam, what's the best part about supporting the talent acquisition team in their quest to find qualified interpreters to join our team? 

[10:53 Samantha R.]: There are so many amazing parts about being part of the talent acquisition team and having that support role here. But one of the best things about it is just knowing that in this role here, we are impacting people's lives in such a positive way because we are making sure that we are putting the best person out there to help interpret for these patients with limited English. Whoever it is, you know, they are still such an important part of the medical field. And you just know that in this part, you're doing good and you're helping someone. 

[11:34 Host Natalia J.]: That's true. So, it’s about finding the right fit. Everybody needs to fit the right, the right interpreter with the profession. We have more people joining us, which is very good. And we have Tyria from Utah, Tanya is joining us from Mexico and Jose is currently joining us from Houston. So thank you. Thank you very much. 

[11:56 Host Natalia J.]: So let's get to it. Let's talk about the code of ethics, which is like the backbone of the interpreting career. So it's a pretty complex subject, but we have the experts here, so that's a good thing. I feel relieved. So Lorena, let's begin with you. Can you provide like a high-level overview of the code of ethics for healthcare interpreters? 

[12:15 Lorena C.]: Yeah. So, interpreters in healthcare, we've had this wonderful tool and I should say two tools, but I'll refer to just the Code of Ethics, which was published in 2004. So it was a long—more than 20 years ago. And the work group back then really set out to create a foundational document that reflected the realities of interpreters then, which was really difficult because they were still trying to figure out what is the work of an interpreter. There was a lot of ad hoc or family members interpreting, so there was no Zoom or Internet back then. And so the work group had to drive out to various parts of the United States and really find out, OK, what are interpreters doing? And how can we develop a code of ethics that creates shared expectations that, one, helps the interpreting community go, yeah, this is what we do, but two, to be able to provide a document to users, people who interact with interpreters that go, oh, what can I expect when I work with that interpreter in healthcare? So it kind of worked both ways for interpreters, but also for those who work with interpreters. 

[13:27 Host Natalia J.]: Yes, it's true. It has gone a long way in the beginning, like you mentioned. Thank you for sharing that. Elsa, how can candidates who are just getting started within their careers get more familiar with the nine principles and how do you use them in practice? Any training programs you would recommend? 

[13:51 Elsa U.]: There are many excellent training programs. I think the bottom line is get the training, find out from the organizations that you want to work for what is required. And once you're in training, really hone in on trying to apply those principles. So not just when we study, just kind of learning what they say and memorizing, but more so exactly how to apply it concretely in real world examples. 

[14:25 Host Natalia J.]: Yes, thank you. It's true. Not necessarily translating, but interpreting—it's a little bit different. We have some questions here from the audience about what languages we are currently recruiting. Sam, could you help me with that? 

[14:42 Samantha R.]: Yeah, so we are in need for some Spanish interpreters coming out of Mexico. Also Mandarin interpreters coming out of Mexico as well. If you are a Rohingya interpreter, then please reach out to us because we really need you guys here as well. [15:14 Natalia J.]: Yes, just to clarify, we need Rohingya from the U.S. as much as possible. Please feel free to apply. And again, amnhealthcare.com/interpreters, I'm going to be saying that a lot. Really, I am. Just so that you cannot tell me you're going to forget. Sam, I have a question for you now. Familiarity with the code of ethics is one of the requirements for candidates coming on board to AMN. So, how do you go about ensuring that candidates have that qualification under their belts, like it is a qualification requirement? 

[15:35 Samantha R.]: Yeah, good question. So our candidates are going to go through a pretty intense interviewing process and there's going to be different points along the way that we are going to kind of screen them and ask these questions to make sure that they have a really good understanding of the code of ethics. And I'll probably talk about that a little bit more here, so keep with us so you can hear a little bit more about the interviewing process. 

[15:58 Natalia J.]: OK, yes, yes, we're really interested about that. And I have a person here, Safir, who's asking—Is there an e-mail where he can reach out to us or the AMN team? 

[16:10 Samantha R.]: It's a platform—amnhealthcare.com/interpreters, please apply. At some point we're going to get back to you. We're very much open to receiving your applications. 

[16:20 Natalia J.]: So let's get to the evolution of the code. Lorena, the NCIHC has just released a proposed draft of the National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Healthcare. What is new and how has it evolved with the profession? Any new values or principles? 

[16:44 Lorena C.]: Yes, so it is proposed, so still not finalized yet. But thinking about what is new, the proposed code that went out recently had a survey with it, so I think everybody in the field has seen it. The goal was to honor the foundational work that the original work group did, but also to ensure that it reflected current realities of the work of the interpreter. If we think about 20 years ago, we can see a big difference because back then there was a lot of onsite interpreting. But now we have video technology. We leverage technology to interpret—whether it's OPI or video. And those changes really affected the work of the interpreter. Medicine has also been leveraging technology at the same time as our profession. When the original code was created, it did a good job at helping us as interpreters make decisions, but it was lacking maybe some structure on how to make those decisions in situations where it wasn't very clear how to apply a certain standard or how to apply a value. As far as the new principles that are proposed, we can see accuracy and completeness; a new one I think is effective communication. Confidentiality has been there since the beginning and it's a core principle for us and it's most likely not going to change. Another new principle was equitable practice—talking about the interpreters' biases, being able to provide an equitable practice in the sense that they're going to mitigate their own preferences and at the same time focus on the patient, focus on the situation so that they can adapt their strategies to match the needs of that particular session. In general, the goal is to see the code not as a new draft, but as a revision that reflects the experience that interpreters have now, including there's another principle on health and wellness—a concept that was raised to a principle. So there are many more updates. Values are still there, standards of practice are still there, principles are there, and standards of practice are still there. Very similar to the beginning with those additional concepts, it doesn't necessarily expand the work of the interpreter, but I think it really helps current interpreters to show that flexibility that they need. 

[20:28 Natalia J.]: Well, it's great that they're taking that human factor—that everything is constantly changing and technology is constantly changing everything. We're all constantly changing, so it has to adapt. Thank you for sharing that. We have a question asking if we're able to recruit remotely from Bangladesh for Rohingya medical interpreters. Sam, do you want to take this one? 

[20:53 Samantha R.]: Yes. Unfortunately, right now we are not able to recruit from Bangladesh. We are able to recruit from Mexico and the U.S. depending on the language pair. Ideally, it would be something that we can try to get to in the future and we're always working on that. And if that ever does come about, then we will be reaching out. 

[21:06 Natalia J.]: Thank you. Elsa, what role does critical decision making and autonomy play in your work as a medical interpreter nowadays? 

[21:33 Elsa U.]: I think it's the very basis of everything. If the interpreter isn't constantly thinking about—it's nonmaleficence and patient beneficence and balancing that with patient autonomy—that is the essence of just about every decision that we're making. And there's microseconds in a session where you're deciding how to intervene without overstepping and without lacking where you should have stepped in. It's a nice balance. It's very, very strong. And I've always said it—medical interpreters, we're not doctors, but we work alongside those doctors, so the same value should apply. 

[22:24 Natalia J.]: Thank you, Sam. What piece of information do you look for when interviewing that demonstrates that the candidate is familiar with the code of ethics? 

[22:36 Samantha R.]: We look for quite a few things during our interviewing process. At a couple of different points, you might be asked about what the role of the interpreter is, which obviously impacts knowing the code of ethics. Additionally, we go into scenario-specific things that could happen during the session. We want to see how you might handle these situations and how you're putting the code of ethics into practice. 

[23:47 Host Natalia J.]: OK, let's get on to ongoing education and accuracy, which is a tough topic. One of the principles requires interpreters to commit to ongoing education. Always keep learning, always keep getting better. 

[24:10 Lorena C.]: Of course. I think Elsa mentioned that earlier. There are tons of companies out there that provide ongoing training. If you're working in a language that perhaps you look around and there's not a lot of practice, you can focus on healthcare as a whole so that you have all the contextual information you need. It's not just terminology, it's also soft skills—and that can only be practiced through interacting with other people. 

[25:55 Elsa U.]: And that's the beauty of the Internet, too. Everything—Google, join those communities, get involved. Webinars are for free, so there are a lot of things you can access. 

[26:07 Host Natalia J.]: Thank you for sharing that, Elsa. Let's talk about the principle of accuracy, which is also a pretty important one. How does that play a role in your work as an interpreter and how to ensure that the full message is getting across, even when something is implied but not necessarily said? 

[26:29 Elsa U.]: The principle of accuracy is tremendous and it's, in essence, what we do every day. We're there to ensure that the communication is accurate. In Latin America, there's the medication Dipyrone, which in the United States is not sold. It's off the market since the 70s, but it's known here as Metamizole and it's used in veterinary medicine. A lot of patients are allergic to this medication. This is information you acquire with experience, and it's part of the message that's said but also being left unsaid, so it's on the interpreter to clarify for the purpose of clarity. Now that we have AI scribe, the doctors love it because as we're saying it, it's notated in their notes and is already in the patient's medical history. 

[28:43 Host Natalia J.]: We have Daniel, who's currently watching us from Haiti, and he says we're doing a good job. Thank you. We have Rewan here, who wants to know—he doesn't really have any sort of work experience but wants to get into the interpreting field. Maybe Lorena can help us with that. 

[29:11 Lorena C.]: The first step is training. Interpreting isn't just about being bilingual. The interpreting process is different than just speaking two languages. My recommendation would be to start with training online—there are various organizations like NCIHC and CCHI that provide resources on where to begin. 

[29:53 Host Natalia J.]: Everything is available online. Just Google "medical interpreter training courses." 

[30:04 Host Natalia J.]: Sam, can you share a few of the roles we're currently looking to fill? 

[30:12 Samantha R.]: We are currently looking to fill roles for Spanish out of Mexico, Mandarin out of Mexico, and we do need Rohingya interpreters out of the U.S. If you know somebody who might be interested, please share the link—amnhealthcare.com/interpreters. 

[30:52 Host Natalia J.]: Let's talk about stories from the field. Lorena, from your time as an interpreter, can you tell an example of a session when you had to interject because of a cultural nuance? 

[31:16 Lorena C. (Panelist)]: There's so many, but I'll share one that was impactful. A patient at the hospital had to meet with hospice services—a concept in the U.S. that's a group of services, but the family thought it meant a place. There was a lot of confusion and resistance. Before I started interpreting, I clarified that hospice in the US means a group of services. As we continued, the tension went down, and they realized their family member could remain at home with the support of hospice services. It was meaningful, and I felt privileged to be able to clarify that healthcare concept. 

[33:56 Host Natalia J.]: Elsa, can you give an example of a time when you had to share relevant medical information for a patient to ensure a desired outcome? 

[34:23 Elsa U.]: The knowledge of the medical system is important. When a patient enters a hospital there's often a depression screening, but medical staff may not explain it's protocol. Patients can become defensive. In that moment, it's up to the interpreter to clarify that it's something everyone is asked—it's protocol, a depression screening. That context helps the patient understand, and they're less likely to take it personally. 

[36:10 Host Natalia J.]: For the audience who just joined, can you let them know how to apply, Sam? 

[36:23 Samantha R.]: You can apply at amnhealthcare.com/interpreters. Make sure your resume is updated with your language pairs, accurate work history, and current contact info. That's the best way for us to get in touch. 

[36:54 Host Natalia J.]: Lorena, in your opinion, why is the code of ethics for healthcare interpreters important? 

[37:08 Lorena C.]: It's a core document. It establishes shared expectations, helps us make value-led decisions, and provides enough flexibility to know there can be more than one right way to approach a situation. The code of ethics gives us the tools we need to do our jobs well. 

[38:31 Host Natalia J.]: Elsa, what is your biggest takeaway from the code of ethics and standards of practice? 

[38:34 Elsa U.]: Know your principles and make decisions in your sessions based on them. If ever unsure, debrief with someone you trust, whether it's a colleague or supervisor, and learn from the experience. That's how you get better at practically applying the code of ethics. 

[41:51 Host Natalia J.]: We have a question—Mariam has applied many times for Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. Sam, can you speak to that? 

[42:01 Samantha R.]: Sometimes we're not currently recruiting for those languages, but we have openings coming up at any moment. Please keep your application in. 

[42:09 Host Natalia J.]: Daniel wants to know if at any moment we're going to have openings for court interpreters. 

[42:18 Samantha R.]: As of now, that's not something we're expanding into. Almost all of our calls are focused on medical interpretation. 

[42:46 Host Natalia J.]: Sam, what is your last piece of advice for candidates who are interested in working with AMN? 

[42:57 Samantha R.]: Your resume is your introduction to us. Submit a clear, concise, professional resume listing all interpreting experiences and language pairs, even if it's a language we're not currently recruiting for—sometimes we need to launch a new language and you'll be among the first we reach out to. 

[43:49 Host Natalia J.]: Well, that brings us to the end of our show. Thank you to our great panel. It was a hard and complicated topic but an important one. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. And to the folks at home, thank you for being here with us. We love to hear your comments and questions and hope to see you at the next one—the third Wednesday of May, with a new topic and a great guest panel. Thank you for coming, and it has been a pleasure. 

[End of Transcript]