The New Zealand medical journal
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To identify the frequency of medical students interpreting in healthcare settings and to explore the issues related to the use of non-professional interpreters. ⋯ A considerable proportion of bilingual clinical medical students have interpreted for patients contrary to Capital and Coast District Health Board policy and professional interpreter recommendations. In conjunction with published literature and after consulting with interpreter trainers, we have developed a document which canvasses the issues involved and proposed practical guidelines, to better prepare healthcare professionals and non-professional interpreters for interpreting situations. More research is required to find out why clinicians are asking medical students and others to interpret rather than engaging professional interpreters.