The Department of Justice has answered this question by stating the following in Appendix B to its ADA regulations: In certain circumstances, notwithstanding that the family member or friend is able to interpret or is a certified interpreter, the family member or friend may not be qualified to render the necessary interpretation because of factors such as emotional or personal involvement or considerations of confidentiality that may adversely affect the ability to interpret "effectively, accurately, and impartially." Thus, if a health care professional asks a family member or friend of a patient who is deaf to interpret, and the patient does not want that person to interpret, the patient should ask the professional to provide someone else.