Deaf Man Mistakenly Fears HIV During Hospital Visit Highlights Interpreter Shortage

Richard MacQueen, a deaf man from Dundee, mistakenly believed he had tested positive for HIV while hospitalized with pneumonia due to the absence of a qualified British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. A nurse with only basic sign language skills communicated his HIV test results using a thumbs-up sign, which Richard misinterpreted, causing him significant distress for two days until a qualified interpreter could clarify the negative result. This incident highlights the critical need for accurate communication support in medical settings for deaf individuals. In response, an app called SignPort has been developed by Deaf Action with Scottish Government support to connect deaf users with BSL interpreters quickly and efficiently, aiming to prevent similar misunderstandings. Richard, who participated in the app's pilot, praised it as a major advancement for the deaf community, enabling easy booking and secure communication with interpreters. The initiative has been welcomed by officials as a step toward making Scotland more inclusive for deaf people.