Two interpreters walk into an appointment - Ethics question
I’ve had this happen a few times and I’m curious as a newer interpreter how other interpreters handle these situations.
It’s when the medical office (or at other assignments, I just do more medical) accidentally schedules two interpreters from different agencies for the same appointment. They are both getting paid regardless of if they are the one to stay or leave.
When this has happened to me, the other interpreter didn’t chat with me before they told the Deaf client that since I was there first, I will stay. I asked the Deaf client if that was okay or if they’d be more comfortable with the other interpreter since they knew them (I hadn’t met them before). The other interpreter told me it didn’t matter.
Is whoever gets there first the one who stays a common way of deciding? How have ya’ll handled this kind of situation when it comes up?
Edit: Thank you for all the comments and additions to this discussion! I read all the comments, even if I’m not replying to everything and there’s a lot of good points being made.