Aleksandar
Interpreter blues
Today, at the hospital, I had to tell someone he was going to die because I was the only one to speak his language. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Same thing different taste
Anonymous
Australia
Don't shoot the messenger
Today, I took my best friend to see her dad in hospital. While they were talking in another room about his care, he took his last lucid words before his death. I was the only one there and I'd never even met him before. FML
rosie
Communication Breakdown
Today, I was unable to communicate with a customer who only spoke French. As a result, my boss called me a "monolingual idiot." I speak Spanish, German, and Japanese. FML
ohhhman
United States
Lost in translation
Today, one of the Haitians that works in the kitchen at my restaurant said something to me. Usually I can't understand them and I just smile and laugh, so that's what I did this time. Later, I found out he was trying to tell me his father had passed away. FML
Anonymous
United States
Brain freeze
Today, I work at a hospice center. At 3AM, a call just went out to a man's family to come because he was dying. I didn't realize that this man was my old friend's grandpa. When I saw her, I smiled really big and said, "Hey! Great to see you!" Her grandpa was ACTIVELY DYING. Stupid stupid stupid. FML
Anonymous
United States
Am I being Punk'd?
Today, I was told by a doctor that I have a fatal disease, and that I should start making preparations for when I pass away. Then, another doctor showed up, panicking, and said that was meant for someone else with the same first name as me. The mini-heart attack I had at that moment almost killed me anyway. FML
language barriers
United States
Today, I was at the airport trying to help a man get to the right terminal. When he finished he turned to tell me "Don't worry, your English is pretty good, considering you're not American". English is my only language. FML
sirenmario
Today, a patient at the hospital I work at had a tracheal tube and couldn't speak. I'm unable to read lips, but I'm pretty sure he was mouthing the words "Stupid bitch" every time I tried to stop him from pulling out his IV. FML
Anonymous
No comprendo
Today, I got lost in a foreign city while on vacation and couldn't communicate with anyone, because I didn't speak the language and no one seemed to be able, or even wanted, to speak to me in mine. FML
Anonymous
Grand Rapids, United States
Today, I took my 6-year-old son to visit his grandmother, as the doctors say she only has days left to live. Minutes after we arrived, he leaned in close and told her that she's going to hell. FML
Damn it, Charles
Hypochondriac
Today, I took my friend to the emergency room because he was having heart problems. The doctors recognized him, and one of them had something to say: "Charles, can you not wait until you're practically dying to seek medical treatment?" This is gonna be a long day. FML
Top comments
coius 23
Sorry you are in that position. It’s never easy to deliver grim news, but remind yourself it’s better knowing you are dying rather than not knowing and being scared of the unknown (which can be terrifying). Allows them to get affairs in order, and to say peace with loved ones. Dying unexpectedly I would think would be worse. No way to make peace with yourself and others, and survivors would never get the chance to say goodbye.
RichardPencil 32
Did you say, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die?" I'm sure the patient would enjoy one last laugh.
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Comments (4)
RichardPencil 32
Did you say, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die?" I'm sure the patient would enjoy one last laugh.
coius 23
Sorry you are in that position. It’s never easy to deliver grim news, but remind yourself it’s better knowing you are dying rather than not knowing and being scared of the unknown (which can be terrifying). Allows them to get affairs in order, and to say peace with loved ones. Dying unexpectedly I would think would be worse. No way to make peace with yourself and others, and survivors would never get the chance to say goodbye.
rotflqtms_ 21
That's really odd. They usually have a translator service that can do that, like actual paid translators who you get on an app on the hospital tablet (ours is an iPad) and they usually have all the languages, and you choose the language then go into the patient's room after you connect to someone. There's even ASL.. ask your bosses about that because it's a patient right to get care in a language they understand, and if you weren't there, what would they have done for that patient's care? Yeah, it may have been more convenient using you, but unless you're a trained medical translator, you shouldn't have to be used for such important translations, and you can refuse based on the fact that you aren't legally a medically trained translator... unless you are... then sorry.
tounces7 28
I would have to say his FML trumps yours, though.