Hello all. My Mother had a hospital appointment on monday in Pontivy. At the appointment they told her they wouldn’t examin her because she can’t speak french! I can understand to a point, BUT… Here’s the problem. She is 81 years old. She is still recovering from a stroke that nearly killed her last year, and as a result she has promblems with her speech, so even english is a problem let alone french! I feel as though she wasn’t treated fairly and was wondering if 1) this happens alot and 2) is there anything i can do about it ? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Wow! Was she there by herself?
The thing to do is write formally to head of hospital - information will be on their website.
You could organise someone to accompany her who would be an interlocutor/intermediary.
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No she was with my Father, who also unfortunately can’t speak french. Thanks for your advice.
Then they both need someone to accompany them and interpret for them, has this sort of situation never arisen before? Was your mother perhaps the French-speaker and organiser in the couple?
Is there even just a friend who could go?
As i already said in the original post she doesn’t speak french, and no this has never happened before to her.
Well how were they meant to examine her? Think of it from the doctor’s point of view. Even with reasonably good French medical terms can be complex and obscure and a serious misunderstanding could arise, resulting in inappropriate, perhaps harmful treatment. I’d encourage you to have someone who speaks good English and French to accompany her ASAP.
I hope she makes a good recovery.
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Not exactly, you said she had had a stroke and couldn’t speak, not that she has never spoken French, it was unclear.
How have they gone about life in general without speaking French? Do they have any friends who could interpret for them?
In this instance specifically they really need someone who can go with them, there may be an asso, or the mairie might have information, but that means telephoning so maybe no good without help.
I hope she gets well soon and some help even sooner.
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Yes that is the way to go, although my spoken French is ok I cannot process rapid response very well any more (I used to 20 years ago) and, with my wife needing serious examinations we were so lucky to have @toryroo by our side. 
But I believe in some areas there are volunteers who will turn up if they can to help in such a situation. There was a member of another forum I remember who did such work but I am surprised that someone could not have been found in the hospital with some command of English.
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I had a look and found this person in Pontivy, not an interpreter but a freelance English teacher, could be useful and at least they’ll be able to communicate. Ring them and see.
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On my one and only hospital visit (A&E) I was surprised to have nurses speak to me in English, and see signs around in French and English. Not a big city hospital either. None of the doctors I saw that day did (or perhaps felt they didn’t need to) I suppose front line staff are equipped accordingly. Or maybe a generational thing; the nurses being younger than the doctors I saw.
I will try that thank you! 
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Another solution here 
It sort of surprises me that if their French is poor then they don’t use their phone as the instantaneous spoken translation apps are apparently quite good now. Maybe not for very technical stuff but could have helped.
They are usless with technology unfortunately.
This is a bit unfortunate as medical issues tend to get more complex with age. The doctor is within his rights to refuse as it is his responsibility to be sure eg the drugs will be correctly taken and that he has all pertinent information.
I think you may have to get a proper helper to accompany them if they realky can’t learn to use a hand held translator
But still write to the hospital as this is not a good way to go about things! And upsetting for her. They could have tried to ask her to get you on the phone for example to help translate.
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Not to derail the thread, but I know of a few folks who’ve lived here for decades and can barely order coffee, but survive by having friends and/or neighbours helping them with their interactions with tradesmen and state service.
Which is a sketchy workaround as eventually, those friends and neighbours die off or move away and they’re left relying on technology that they can’t or won’t use.
That’s very useful thank you!
It appears to be discriminatory and illegal to refuse access to health care on the basis of language ability:
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Would be curious as to why they are here? Genuinely interested.
While UK public services seem to have some sort of obligation to provide interpreters for those who do not speak English this definitely does not aeem to be the case in France.
Though if was health which had deprived someone of their previous capability in French (as distinguished from never had the capability) I would hope that medical providers would be able to take this into account.
But it sounds as tbough ericvb1s parents need to be “accompagnés” (in the French sense which is more comprehensive) in all medical dealings now and not just due to language.
This is the solution I would work on finding.
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