Autonomy is the right to self-determination and the freedom to act according to your own values and interests. Autonomy in the medical setting is the right of patients to self-determination, free from constraining and controlling behaviors. Providers have increasingly focused on patient autonomy over the past 100 years.

Patients have self-determination when they have:

• the right to speak for themselves, saying what they want to say, the way they want to say it (communicative autonomy), and
• the right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, free from undue influence or coercion from others.

The interpreter's responsibility is to support the communicative autonomy of patients and providers so that they may understand each other and make informed and deliberate choices.

Effective communication takes into account the fact that personal autonomy may be influenced by cultural context, family dynamics, circumstances, and understanding in decision-making. The goal is for the patient to have meaningful access to information about their care.