Ethical Decision-Making

This page clusters the following competencies:

1.6 - Discuss professional and ethical decision-making in a manner consistent with theoretical models and standard professional practice.
2.2 - Advocate for conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of consumers and interpreters.
2.6 - Demonstrate an understanding of professional boundaries by following generally accepted practices as defined by the code of ethical conduct.
5.4 - Demonstrate professional integrity by avoiding conflicts of interest, adhering to the code of ethical conduct, and applying standard professional business practices.

Throughout the day, interpreters make hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions. Maintaining the highest ethical standards is essential to ensuring that consumers receive quality services they can trust. This cluster of competencies outlines the behaviors, expectations, and applications required for ethical decision-making in the field. Interpreters must be able to discuss theories and frameworks that guide professional judgment and are considered standard practice within the field (1.6). In this program, the primary frameworks used were the Demand-Control Schema and Role-Space Theory. Interpreters are also responsible for promoting interpreting environments that are safe and productive for interpreters and consumers (2.2). As stated in Competency 2.6, maintaining professional boundaries in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) and widely accepted field norms is essential. Finally, interpreters must avoid conflicts of interest and demonstrate integrity by adhering to professional business practices outlined in the CPC (5.4).

To demonstrate my current standings with these competencies, I have an analysis of a case study I completed in INTR 401: Professional Decision-Making in the fall of 2025. It will be analyzed using the framework used in class: Analyze the Dilemma, Identify Possible Solutions, Make a Decision, and Consider the Impact.

Birth Announcement

An interpreter who is headed to the local RID chapter meeting just interpreted the birth of a local Deaf couple’s baby girl. As they have many friends in the interpreting community, they have asked the interpreter to announce during the meeting that their healthy baby girl has arrived.

(D) Analyze the Dilemma:

The parents are both involved as it is their child and their news to share. They are likely in that “baby bliss” zone that people experience after meeting their baby, and they want to share their news with the people they care about. I have yet to have a child, but from what I’ve heard, the time right after having one often feels like a “I want to shout it from the rooftops” kind of moment.
Another person involved is the interpreter. The situation asks them to examine their boundaries and how comfortable they are sharing information related to an assignment with the larger interpreting community.
The other people who would be at the RID meeting are involved, although we don’t know enough about them to understand how they would respond. We could make assumptions about their responses to inform decision-making.
The wider Deaf community in this local area could also be involved, as the information, once shared at the RID meeting, could spread to more people within the Deaf community.
This seems to be a truth versus loyalty dilemma (Kidder, 2009). The interpreter might want to be part of sharing the family's news and the joy it brings, but could feel conflicted about maintaining loyalty to the CPC and its tenets on confidentiality. Additionally, it is a short-term vs. long-term dilemma, as the interpreter could want to be part of the joy of sharing the news and make the parents happy in the short term (Kidder, 2009). Still, other interpreters who see this interpreter share the news could become confused about what confidentiality truly is, creating long-term ramifications for consumers in that area.
CPC Tenets I see most prominently at play are:
- 1.1 Interpreters “share assignment-related information only on a confidential and ‘as needed' basis.”
- 3.10 “Refrain from using confidential interpreted information for the benefit of personal or professional affiliation or entities.” (Could sharing this information bring them personal “status” at the RID meeting?)
- 4.2 “Approach consumers with a professional demeanor at all times.” (NAD-RID, 2005).

(S) Identify possible Solutions

The interpreter could politely decline and remind the couple of the importance of confidentiality in their role. This highlights 1.1 and 4.2 (NAD-RID, 2005).
The interpreter could share the news with verbal consent, as this is sufficient to meet the CPC's confidentiality requirements.
The interpreter could share the news, but not say that they learned it from an interpreting job. They could keep it vague and say that they (the interpreter) heard from the couple that the baby arrived. This dances around the CPC in a very grey-area way.
The interpreter could ask if there was anyone else at RID whom the couple knew and would like to share the news with directly. Then, if needed, the interpreter could provide the couple with that person's contact information so they can share it and make the request to that person, who was not involved in the interpretation of the birth. For example, if they know a person on the RID board but don’t have their email address, and the interpreter could obtain it, the family could contact the RID board member to make the announcement instead of asking the interpreter.

(D) Make a Decision

I would make a decision that ensures the couple is in contact with another person who can share the news at the RID meeting. That way, I can assist them if they need help getting their news to the people they want it shared with, but I am not at all dancing around the issue of confidentiality in a way that makes me feel unsettled. This honors tenets 1.1 and 3.10 of the CPC while still upholding 4.2 (NAD-RID, 2005). Confidentiality is imperative for trust in any interpreted situation. I would hate for any past or future consumers at that meeting to see me share the news and think it is something I don’t take seriously or value. Additionally, it could set a dangerous precedent if another interpreter or even an interpreting student sees my actions in a public setting like that, misunderstands the situation, and believes it is ethical to share any information. Seeking another way for the couple to share the information honors the interpreter's role regarding confidentiality.

(I) Consider the Impact

The parents may be slightly annoyed that I wouldn’t share the information for them. Still, if they feel such a strong sense of community within RID that they want the interpreting community to be among the first to know of their child's birth, there must be another person at the meeting they can trust to relay the message without there being an ethical grey area. At the end of the day, I would act in a way that upholds the integrity and gravity of the interpreter's role, especially in such private and intimate settings. I would hope they respect that.

References:

Kidder, R. M. (2009). How good people make tough choices: Resolving the dilemmas of ethical living. Harper.

National Association of the Deaf, & Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. (2005). NAD-RID code of professional conduct. Registry of

Interpreters for the Deaf. https://rid.org/programs/ethics/code-of-professional-conduct/#tab-83c2d5f3fc6b5645e4a

Reflection

When I first encountered this assignment, I wasn’t sure how I would generate a complete analysis from a two-sentence scenario. However, as I engaged with the activity, I quickly realized that even a seemingly simple case can be rich with nuance and complexity.

In my work for this scenario, I demonstrate Competency 1.6 by grounding my final decision in the CPC, specifically Tenets 1.1, 3.10, and 4.2. By advocating for confidentiality, I uphold consumer and interpreter rights as required by Competency 2.2, and in alignment with Competency 2.6, I maintain appropriate professional boundaries even after the assignment has concluded. While this case does not involve a clear conflict of interest in the sense of financial or professional gain, it is possible that sharing the news within the community could elevate the interpreter’s social standing. By choosing not to disclose this information, the interpreter demonstrates Competency 5.4 by avoiding a conflict of interest and maintaining professional integrity.

Before taking INTR 401: Professional Decision-Making, I lacked confidence in my ability to find creative solutions that aligned with both my values as a practitioner and those embedded in the CPC. This case study is one example of the many analyses I completed during the course, all of which helped strengthen my skills. I can see meaningful growth in my ability to assess a situation, identify ethically sound options, and develop solutions that respect the needs of all parties involved. I also recognize that I still tend to take time before reaching a decision I feel confident in enacting. In real life, I do not always have time to reflect.

As I prepare to enter the field, I will continue to build my confidence and improve the efficiency of my ethical decision-making skills. I plan to deepen my familiarity with the CPC until it becomes second nature and to continue engaging in ethical discussions with peers and colleagues so that this type of reflective practice extends beyond INTR 401.

I look forward to monitoring my continued growth in this area as I gain more experience in the field.

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