A non-English-speaking woman comes with her 8-year-old bilingual daughter. The assistant noticed possible signs of abuse on the woman. The chief complaint is tooth #14 pain. What should be done next?

Correct answer: B. Use a certified interpreter and ask the woman what happened

• A. Starting treatment without addressing suspected abuse or ensuring proper communication is inappropriate.
• B. The correct step is to use a qualified/certified medical interpreter to communicate with the patient, properly assess the situation, then report if indicated. This protects patient rights and ensures accurate assessment.
• C. Using a child (especially the possible abuse victim's daughter) as a medical interpreter is INAPPROPRIATE. The child may be coached, traumatized by the topic, or unable to accurately convey sensitive information. HIPAA and ethical standards prohibit this.
• D. Reporting before proper assessment and communication may be premature; proper evaluation with accurate communication must come first.