This can also be a struggle for families (in the US, anyway) in which the parents do not speak English, but the children do.

Hospitals often don't have the funding/staffing to always have translators available, sometimes leaving children as the only translators available in tight situations.

A colleague of mine has struggled with this tremendously.....

Needing to get permission for an emergency surgery from someone who doesn't speak English, no translators available, and having to have an 8 year old kid translate about a life-threatening surgery and the seriousness of an illness that their mom has...not ideal.


Having to tell a parent they have cancer through a 13 year old. Not ideal.


So difficult! My heart goes out to the struggles of these children and families.