Children's hospital treats patients only in German
Small Sign, Big Impact: A Pediatric Practice Treats Only Patients with German Language Skills or Interpreters
A pediatric practice in Kirchheim unter Teck now only treats patients who speak German or come with an interpreter. "We only speak German in this practice!" is written on a sign at the reception of the practice near Stuttgart. This rule has sparked heated debates online and even accusations of racism.
Dr. Ulrich Kuhn, the pediatrician, dismisses these accusations: Emergency cases would still be treated without an interpreter, he says. "We don't turn anyone away who doesn't speak German, that's not the point." However, the practice aims to treat patients safely, effectively, and reasonably, the 60-year-old says. "That was the motivation behind putting up this sign." More and more parents with children were coming in who didn't understand a word of German, making treatment and diagnosis impossible, Kuhn says. "We simply couldn't explain to the patients and their parents what needed to be done."
"Every Time a Minor Bodily Injury"
The sign has been at the reception of the large Kirchheim pediatric practice for about two months. It also states: "If communication is not possible due to a lack of German language skills and no interpreter is personally present, we will have to refuse treatment in the future, except in emergency cases."
Kuhn explains this with an example. They couldn't ask about allergies or medical history, which naturally influences therapeutic measures, the pediatrician says. "In the case of vaccinations, we commit a minor bodily injury every time, both in the sense of the Civil Code and the Criminal Code. We have to protect ourselves legally."
Mixed Reactions
According to Kuhn, around 3,500 children and young people are treated in the practice per quarter. He has been practicing with his colleague on site for about 23 years. Now, about half of the patients have a migration background.
Unlike outsiders on the internet, these patients do not see the sign as racist, Kuhn says. In fact, the practice has been supported in its approach. "Parents with a migrant background haven't reacted negatively, they've just done what we asked. They bring interpreters now." A practice on Lake Constance even asked if they could adopt the sign, the doctor reports.
Sign to Stay Despite Criticism
Outside the practice, reactions were more mixed. While there was understanding, there was also clear criticism of the approach. "I am absolutely appalled," one user commented online. Another described the sign as "bottomless, disrespectful, and racist."
The doctors are aware of the racism accusations, but the sign will stay. "We know that's not our motivation," Kuhn says. "Opinions of people who have nothing to do with our practice don't interest me greatly."
According to the State Chamber of Physicians in Baden-Württemberg, doctors can indeed stop treating patients if there are fundamental communication problems. Professionally, a significant amount of discretion is granted to the doctor.
The Stuttgart Association of General Practitioners announces that a situation with insufficient language skills for doctors is scarcely resolvable. "On the one hand, they want to treat patients, on the other hand, they need to inform patients," the association explains. For this, a minimum level of communication is required. Tools like Google Translate are only suboptimal and would consume much time that could then not be available for other patients.
Legal Grey Area
The Professional Association of Paediatricians in Berlin also sees that a legally compliant information about vaccinations with language barriers is nearly impossible. "Finding the appropriate middle ground is the daily bread of a paediatric and youth practice."
For the practice in Kirchheim unter Teck, it is clear: "This sign does not contain any discriminatory statement," says paediatrician Kuhn. It has nothing to do with discrimination, but with reality. "If there is no interpreter and the patients do not understand us, we are actually not allowed to treat them. If we do it anyway, we are constantly in a legal grey area."
The Commission of the State Chamber of Physicians in Baden-Württemberg has stated that doctors have the right to stop treating patients if there are fundamental communication problems. Dr. Kuhn, the pediatrician, mentioned that the practice refers to the Professional Association of Paediatricians in Berlin for legal guidance.
