Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements Concerning Provision of Interpreters by Doctors


 

Publication Date: July 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. sections 12101 et seq., prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by places of public accommodations. A common question concerning the ADA is whether this prohibition requires medical doctors and hospitals to provide an interpreter when they have a patient with a hearing disability. This requirement varies depending upon the situation presented but situations may arise where there is an obligation to provide an interpreter. This report will be updated as appropriate. For a more detailed discussion of the ADA see Jones, "The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Statutory Language and Recent Issues," CRS Report 98-921.