Consequences of Poor Medical Interpretation

Article by Cel Santos

The language barrier is a gap that is continuously being filled up. Many individuals and companies are now answering the call for a more language sensitive environment. The common solution to bridge the gap is the use of a medical interpreter and/or use of professional translation services. Although this improves the medical services that individuals receive, it is by no means a full proof guarantee that everything will be satisfactory. There are times when a medical interpreter provides services that are below par and this can cause a myriad of problems.

Some of the common problems resulting from poor service rendered by a medical interpreter or professional translation services can be dire and life threatening.

First, there is misdiagnosis. Without the accurate information, doctors can easily misdiagnose a patient. As such, wrong medical treatments, procedures and medications can be done. Because of this, the life of the patient may be put in grave danger.

Second, there can be misunderstanding and mistrust. Though it was not the fault of the doctor, patients may harbor resentment and mistrust for their doctor or other medical professionals giving patients care. Moreover, this can jeopardize the professional career of the medical practitioner simply because the medical interpreter failed to his or her job properly.

Third, unnecessary stress for the patient and the medical professional can be experienced. Though stress can be brought about by numerous things, a poor service of a medical interpreter can cause additional financial concerns for the family, legal actions for the medical institution and the doctor. In accurate information may also lead to undue stress from a diagnosis that is actually erroneous.

Fourth, a poor medical transcription can lead to waste of resources. Mostly it’s the time of the doctor, the patients and of course of the medical interpreter. But it can also include additional expenses for the patient as unnecessary procedures, treatments and medications may have been paid and done. Moreover, any unnecessary procedure and treatment is a waste of medical resources which could have used for someone who really needs them.

Fifth, the death of a patient is a possibility. When a medical interpreter or when professional interpretation services fail to deliver quality work, all other people depending on their output will be affected. The worst case scenario is killing the patient due to inaccurate details. Though this may sound adverse, it is a possibility that must be kept in mind always.

Because of the integral nature of medical interpretation, it is important that only qualified individuals are given this task. It is not enough that the interpreter knows the languages. In fact, the interpreter must be knowledgeable about the medical practice as well.

About the Author

Cel Santos works at Day Translations, Inc. — Professional Translation Services, a global provider of translation solutions. Visit our website at http://www.daytranslations.com and for Language Interpreting go to http://www.worldinterpreting.com

Choice, Responsibility And Consequences

You can improve your life by making thought out choices, taking responsibility for the consequences, and learning from mistakes.

You have the power of choice in your own life. Remember that, however, you do not have that power in other’s lives, you can only make decisions for yourself. Everyone from anywhere needs to take responsibility for their life and their choices. Often our outcomes are the consequences of our prior choices in life.

One thing that is very difficult for all of us to deal with is that we can only control the choices that we make, not the choices that others make. We can try to persuade, educate and inform to sway someone’s decision, but we have no control over that person’s end choice. The good thing is that we have complete and total control over the choices we make in our own lives, small or large. That can be a very powerful thing to have when you know and embrace that power.

Our Power of Choice

Power of choice is a wonderful opportunity we have in our lives, and some people do not even realize that we have this power. If there is something in your life that you do not like do not complain, whine or stress over it. You should figure out a way to change it to better your own life as well as those around you. When you are happy, those who truly love you will be happy as well. You have the power to choose what you do, why you do it, how you do it, and when you do it. You have the power to make thought out decisions that will make you happy.

Outcomes Are Consequences Of Choices Made

The outcomes of the choices you make are consequences. We can often associate the word consequence with a bad meaning, such as getting punished as a child. However, a consequence is something to learn from, grow from and use to get better with. It has nothing to do with your childhood, how you were raised and/or how you were treated. This is now, and now you are an adult. Use the consequences from your choices (good and bad) to learn from. Make the good outcomes even better, and the bad ones better too. You have the power to do that, but you can only do that when you take responsibility for the choices you make.

Being Responsible

One difficult part of learning from the choices we make no matter how small or how large is taking responsibility for them. When something goes wrong from a choice you have made you need to own up and say, yes, I made that choice and the outcome was not as I expected. I will learn from that mistake and make better choices for myself in the future. Even when you make a choice that has a fantastic outcome it can be hard to toot your own horn, but you should. Be proud of yourself for making a decision that provided a good outcome and keep trying to make choices that do make you happy.

Making Choices For A Better Life

Everything you do, you say is a choice. Even what you feel is a choice. When you go to work everyday at a job you do not like and complain about it – change it! Making yourself stressed and anxious over a job you do not like is a choice you made. Take responsibility for that choice, and start to make plans to change your past choices. Plan to get training for something you have a passion for, plan to go back to school or just get another job you would enjoy doing. You could even start a business using your own passions. These are all choices, but only you know what choices will better your life.

You Can Improve Your Life

Improve your life with the choices you make. Choose to be happy. If something stresses you out choose to calm yourself down, take a breather, take control, and get back on track with whatever you were doing. Make choices in your personal life, work life, leisure life, and school life that will make you happy. If you are in a relationship that does not seem to be working make a choice to work it out, express your concerns, or break it off. If you do not like your job make a choice to change what you do for a living. If you do not like where you live maybe you need to move or plan to move.

You have the power of choice in your life. Now you can use this power to your advantage to better your life!

California Controlled Substances Coram Nobis Immigration Consequence Lawyers Attorneys

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. CARLOS MELENDEZ, Defendant and Appellant.
COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA, SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT, DIVISION THREE
September 30, 2010, Filed

On May 13, 1992, Melendez, a Guatemalan citizen, pleaded guilty to the sale or transportation of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11352, subd. (a)), in Los Angeles Superior Court.  In 2009, Melendez, acting in propria persona, filed a petition for a writ of error coram nobis seeking to vacate his 1992 plea. The conviction prevents his legal i[m]migration status with his United States citizen family. Melendez claimed that he received ineffective assistance of counsel in the 1992 case because: (1) he and counsel spoke different languages and, as a result, never meaningfully conferred; (2) his attorney never advised him of the immigration consequences of his plea; and (3) counsel did not intelligently discuss the charges, potential defenses, or alternatives to the plea. Further, neither the trial court, the prosecutor, nor anyone else advised him of the immigration consequences of his plea, in violation of section 1016.5. In a written order, the court explained: “While the court file no longer contains a transcript of the plea agreement, other court records of the proceeding establish that the Petitioner was appropriately advised of the consequences of his plea. Specifically, the minute order/sentencing sheet reflects that the petitioner utilized the services of the Spanish language interpreter at the time he entered his guilty plea in this case. The interpreter is identified in the record as Aaron Miranda. Also, the box on the sentencing sheet affirming that the petitioner was notified of potential immigration consequences was checked off, signifying that the appropriate advisement was given. After Melendez filed a notice of appeal, appellate counsel moved to augment the record with the “sentencing sheet” referenced in the superior court’s April 29, 2009 order. On February 3, 2010, the clerk of the superior court certified that a “thorough search of the Superior Court Case file failed to produce sentencing sheet/minute order that was attached to court’s order denying Petition for Writ of Coram Nobis. There are no attachments that are attached to the Order.

Issues:

Whether appellant’s right under Section 1016.5 has been violated?
Whether coram nobis is the proper channel to review?

Observation and Holding:

To prevail on a motion brought pursuant to section 1016.5, a defendant must establish: (1) at the time of the plea, the trial court failed to advise him of the immigration consequences of the plea as provided in the statute; (2) there exists, at the time of the motion, more than a remote possibility that the conviction will have one or more of the specified adverse immigration consequences; and (3) properly advised, the defendant would not have entered the plea.

Subdivision (b) of section 1016.5 expressly provides that, upon a defendant’s motion, a trial court shall vacate the judgment and permit the defendant to withdraw the plea if the court failed to give the proper immigration advisements. We reasoned that this statutory motion, not a coram nobis petition, is the proper vehicle by which a defendant may seek to vacate his or her conviction on section 1016.5 grounds. To the extent the petition sought relief on the ground the trial court failed to advise Melendez concerning the immigration consequences of his plea, denial was proper because a statutory motion, rather than a coram nobis petition, was the proper remedy for relief.

Finally, we reject Melendez’s contention that the relief sought in the coram nobis petition must be provided because the record on appeal does not contain a copy of the “minute order/sentencing document” relied upon by the superior court. Reversal is required only where critical evidence or a substantial part of a [record] is irretrievably lost or destroyed, and there is no alternative way to provide an adequate record so that the appellate court may pass upon the question sought to be raised. The record before us does not establish that the document in question has been irretrievably lost or is no longer available. On remand, the superior court can determine whether the document is still in the court file and, if necessary, hold a hearing to reconstruct or settle the record. In any event, even if the document in question is determined to have been irretrievably lost or destroyed, that fact would not preclude meaningful appellate review. The absence of the document containing the checked box would not automatically entitle Melendez to relief. As noted, to establish a section 1016.5 claim, the petitioner must establish three elements. The missing document is relevant only to the first element, that is, whether the trial court provided the immigration advisements. At most, its absence would establish a rebuttable presumption that the first element was met.

While the superior court properly denied the coram nobis petition, the court nonetheless remand so that it may consider the petition as a statutory section 1016.5 motion, in that Melendez could have brought such a statutory motion in the first instance.

Disclaimer:

These summaries are provided by the SRIS Law Group.  They represent the firm’s unofficial views of the Justices’ opinions.  The original opinions should be consulted for their authoritative content

Causes and Consequences of Tooth Loss

Article by Cutegirl

What causes tooth loss? There are many reasons why you might lose a tooth. Understanding those causes might help you be aware of your mouth’s health state and prevent problems that contribute to tooth loss. Poor oral hygiene If you don’t brush and floss daily, cavities and gum disease can occur, making tooth loss more likely to happen in the future. Dentists recommend to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss at least once a day. It is also advisable to visit your dentist every six months for a check-ups and cleanings. Poor nutrition Foods that contain a lot of sugar, carbohydrates and acids can damage your teeth and gums. Such diets initiate tooth decay. Poor habits Tooth grinding (bruxism) uses up your teeth over the years and make them shorter. People who grind strongly can also fracture their teeth. Smoking or chewing tobacco can aggravate gum disease that leads to tooth loss. Contact sports Some kids, teenagers or young adults play contact sports regularly. These include football, hockey, basketball, martial arts and so on. Wearing a mouth guard is very important to prevent trauma that can fracture of injure a tooth. Fear Some people are afraid of dentist and never consult one, even if they have a tooth ache. Not consulting for a problem in your mouth can worsen the condition over time and eventually lead to tooth loss. Finances Many people assume that dental treatments are too expensive. Sometimes they are, but other times there are alternative treatments that are less costly. Put also in mind that prevention costs less than treatment. Who is at risk?Everybody is at risk of loosing a tooth, but depending of a person’s age, reasons of tooth loss can be different. Although tooth loss is mostly associated for the elderly, research shows that 27 percent of people lose their first tooth between the ages of 21 and 30. Children become more active as they grow and the chances of tooth trauma increases. Such tooth injuries can occur on baby teeth and adult teeth. If your kids play sports, make sure they wear a mouth guard. Adults must pay attention to brushing and flossing because poor oral hygiene is the main cause of periodontal disease (gum disease). As periodontal disease progresses, tooth loss becomes an inevitable outcome. Gum disease also affects your health in general, especially if you have diabetes or heart disease. Seniors are the most affected by tooth loss for the same reasons mentioned above. As people grow old, they have more chances of getting certain diseases that decreases the immune defence, affecting the mouth as well. Maintaining good oral hygiene is very important for your health in general. Tooth replacement options: If you have one or more missing teeth, or if you must absolutely extract a tooth, there are many effective options for replacement that are available. You may discuss the different options with your dentist in order to decide which solution is right for you. However, you should not remain without replacement of a lost tooth in order to avoid problems mentioned above. Dental implants are considered to be the best and most comfortable tooth replacement solution. They are also the most expensive. An implant is an artificial root that is anchored to the bone and on which a crown is placed. It feels like a real tooth and does not require other teeth for support. A fixed bridge is a set of three or more crowns fused together, where the one in the middle (pontic) replaces the missing tooth. The crowns on the edge cover your own teeth which are used as anchors. A bridge can not be removed and is very aesthetic, looking like your real teeth. Partial and complete dentures are removable and replace several (partial) or all (complete) missing teeth. Since they are not fixed, they are not as comfortable as implants or bridges, and do not help you chew foods as effectively. But depending where your missing teeth are, dentures can give your smile an aesthetic look. Partials also prevent your other teeth of shifting and moving.Food |Gift |Relationship |Girlfriend

About the Author

Food |Gift |Relationship |Girlfriend

Consequences of Debt Consolidation Loan

If you are worried about the Debt Consolidation Loan consequences, it is important that you are aware of any of these consequences as well as any benefits.

– Never agree to a debt consolidation loan when you are unsure. If the loan is secured against your home and you fail to make payments, you could be at real risk of repossession.

If you cannot entrust yourself to the debt consolidation loan payment every month, then there are no loan consolidation alternatives which you may want to consider as these often have less consequences than a debt consolidation loan.

As well as negative consequences of debt consolidation, you should also be aware of the positive consequences of consolidating debt:

You don’t have the stress of making payments to multiple debts and can benefit from make one payment to cover all of your unsecured debts.

You will be making a lower monthly payment so the payment itself should become less of a struggle – although a negative consequence of a debt consolidation loan is that you will have to pay your debt back over a time frame. Another debt consolidation loan consequence is with your credit or store cards. It is essential that you destroy these as you do not get into any further debt. If you continue to spend then you will increase the amount of debt that you have and be left with unaffordable monthly debt payments, once again.

It is clear to see that these are consequences of debt consolidation, and that is why you should always seek professional advice when you come to consolidate debt.