Ten years after Sweden's discrimination review, Deaf patients still go without sign language interpreters
More than half of respondents (52 percent) have not always had a sign language interpreter at health care visits, according to the Swedish National Association of the Deaf's (SDR) first survey through its new Deaf Panel. In 2016 the Equality Ombudsman (DO) found interpreter gaps in health care in Skane, Stockholm and Orebro; since 2024 several new discrimination cases have involved Deaf patients denied interpreters at appointments and operations. SDR says the gaps still keep Deaf patients from getting care on equal terms.
