Yes, American or Americanized women often speak for their husbands when the husband is the patient- except when the husband is of middle eastern descent-- then the wife doesn't say a word and just sits there while the husband authoritatively tries to tell me what I need to do for him.
It's funny because when the man is the patient and the woman speaks for him, I don't mind and often welcome it because I know I will get more (accurate) information.
But, when the woman is the patient and the man speaks for her (or female partner in lesbian instances),
I get VERY annoyed and ask him to shut up or leave (in a nice way). Double standard, I know. But I feel women are great & effective communicators about their problems, and if a man (or her partner) has to speak, then something is wrong.