Physical, psychological and functional disabilities due to the pain may lead to loss of occupational, social, and financial status. Electrical torture, for example, is virtually undetectable just days after torture, but it can cause extensive internal damage and bleeding into muscles and joints. If you find yourself treating a patient who is a possible or confirmed survivor of torture, there may be language problems. The rule in this situation is to be guided by the wishes of the patient. Using family members or someone else who happens to understand the patient's language as a translator is inadvisable, because of the lack of confidentiality and because making patients discuss their trauma in front of a family member will only serve to visit the trauma on that family member as well.
Some patients readily use an interpreter.
Others will use an interpreter if they come from another country e.g., a Chilean acting as an interpreter for someone from El Salvador. Using a telephone interpreter is another option which increases the sense of anonymity for the patient. Other patients will be reluctant to use any interpreter and will prefer to struggle with imperfect English. Either way, it should be the patient's choice. Working with refugee survivors of torture.