You may not believe it but it’s a fact that medical translations or interpretation done incorrectly, has the ability to endanger lives. Poor translation, in particular, has adversely affected the lives of a number of people. There have been documented cases of faulty or incompetent medical translations that have caused severe complications, faulty diagnoses, and even death. Competent medical translation is indubitably important as demonstrated by the following cases.
Actual Cases Of The Risks Of Medical Translation
Over the years, there have already been several real cases that show why proper medical translation or interpreting is important. The following are just a few of them:
1. Willie Ramirez’s Quadriplegia
In 1980, baseball player Willie Ramirez was brought to a hospital in South Florida. He was already in coma. Unfortunately, something went awry when the assigned medical interpreter translated the words of the family members who spoke Cuban Spanish. The interpreter misinterpreted the Cuban Spanish word “intoxicado” as “intoxicated.” This “small” problem led to Ramirez waking up a quadriplegic
