CDI Study Group

CPC Tenet #7: Professional Development

"Interpreters engage in professional development".

Principles:
    *Foster and maintain competence and stature of professional through Continuing Education Units (CEU)

Behaviors:
    *Increase knowledge and skills
    *Stay abreast of laws, policies, rules, and regulations

(Briden-Brinks)

CPC Tenet #6: Business Practices

"Interpreters maintain ethical business practices".

Principles:
    *Professionally conduct business
    *Entitled to earn wage on qualification and expertise
    *Entitled to working conditions

Behaviors:
    *Show qualifications
    *Honor commitments and terminate jobs
    *Promote conditions
    *Inform if late or absent
    *Reserve option to accept or decline job
    *Refrain from harassment
    *Render pro bono services
    *Charge reasonable fees

(Briden-Brinks)

CPC Tenet #5: Respect for Colleagues

"Interpreters demonstrate respect for colleagues, interns and students of the profession".

Principles:
    *Collaborate with others to foster effective interpreting services

Behaviors:
    *Be civil
    *Work cooperatively
    *Approach colleagues privately
    *Share information when appropriate
    *Obtain consent of colleagues before intern comes to the job

(Briden-Brinks)

CPC Tenet #4: Respect for Consumers

"Interpreters demonstrate respect for consumers".

Principles:
    *Honor consumer preferences in selecting interpreters and dynamics

Behaviors:
    *Consider consumer requests or needs
    *Approach consumers professionally
    *Obtain consent of consumers before job
    *Facilitate communication access and equality

(Briden-Brinks)

CPC Tenet #3: Conduct

"Interpreters conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the specific interpreting situation".

Principles:
    *Present appropriately in demeanor and appearance
    *Avoid situation resulting with conflict roles or interest

Behaviors:
    *Consult about interpreting situation
    *Decline job when needed
    *Avoid dual (multiple) roles
    *Comply with workplace's rules
    *Have proper attire
    *Behave professionally
    *Disclose conflict of interest
    *Be discreet with confidential information

(Briden-Brinks)

CPC Tenet #2: Professionalism

"Interpreters possess the professional skills and knowledge required for the specific interpreting situation"

Principles:
    *Stay abreast of evolving language use and trends in the profession of interpreting and the Deaf community

Behaviors:
    *Service Delivery
    *Consumer needs and interpreting situation
    *Render message faithfully
    *Provide Support
    *Impartiality and Neutrality
    *Information of Referral

(Briden-Brinks)

CPC Tenet #1: Confidentiality

"Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication"

Principles:
    *Be linguistic and cultural facilitator of communication
    *Be familiar with federal and state laws
    *Only exceptions to confidentially are required reports of
        1) abuse
        2) threats of suicide
        3) responding to subpoena (Mathers, 2004)

Behaviors:
    *Assigned job information
    *Billing and consumer information
    *Disclosure of confidential information

(Briden-Brinks)

Comparison of Ethical Codes

Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) - adopted in 2005 by NAD-RID - CURRENTLY IN USE - can be called COE
    1) Confidentiality
    2) Professionalism
    3) Conduct
    4) Respect for Consumers
    5) Respect for Colleagues
    6) Business Practices
    7) Professional Development

Code of Ethics (COE) - adopted in 1990 by RID - NO LONGER IN USE
    1) Confidentiality
    2) Accuracy
    3) Impartiality (Neutrality)
    4) Discretion
    5) Compensation
    6) Appropriate
    7) Continuing Education
    8) Membership

Please be aware that the CDI written test may contain the info on COE instead of CPC since the written test was developed in 2001 before NAD-RID adopted CPC in 2005.  Meanwhile, it is best to study both ethical codes.  The full version of the CPC -
http://rid.org/UserFiles/File/pdfs/codeofethics.pdf

(Briden-Brinks)