[vc_row content_placement=”top”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left|color:%231e73be” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”By Marta Tymchenko, BS” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1664916032027{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Download the article (pdf)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Patient’s Perspective
I don’t want to be
a burden
an inconvenience
an individual
known to take the doctor’s time
and throw it in the wind.

I don’t want to be
a burden
an inconvenience
a mother
who relies on her son
who works so long, so hard
and must take off work
to drive her.

If only I could magically understand
English,
I would not be
a burden
an inconvenience
a patient needing
to rely on loved ones’ words.

The White Coat’s Perspective
I want to be able to connect
with all of my patients
to inquire.
to answer.
to reassure.

But where do I find the time?

I enter the room,
where the day’s first patient
waits with her daughter.

I have to ask the daughter
if she would be alright translating.
The daughter agrees.

How convenient,
I think to myself, with guilty relief.

Ad Hoc Interpreter’s Perspective
This is very convenient.
But is it right?

What if the white coat misunderstands?
What if I misunderstand?

Why didn’t they ask my mother first?
Of course, she’d say yes

even if she doesn’t want this.
She has great respect
For the white coat.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”author-about”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”About the Author(s)” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]