Medical interpretation is an important subset of interpretation, which requires the translator to have some important characteristics. A good medical translator should have a strong medical vocabulary. The translator needs to know how to translate basic medical terms such as asthma and x-rays, as well as advanced highly specialized terms such as nuclear stress test and sickle cell anemia.
An important feature is patient confidentiality. Any communication that occurs between the physician and the patient is confidential. If there is a translator to overcome the language barrier between the doctor and the patient, all messages that take place are still confidential. The translator cannot disclose patient information to anyone.
One aspect of medical interpretation that is difficult to handle is emergency situations. Sometimes a patient with whom the translator works on a regular basis will have an urgent appointment and that the translator will be called upon to help the patient as soon as possible. In these situations, the translator must make an effort to move to this urgent assignment, for the sake of maintaining continuity with this patient. In case the translator cannot fulfill this emergency assignment, the translator should follow the next day to find out the nature of the emergency.
A medical translator must be polite and respectful of all medical personnel, from doctors to planners of appointments. The interpreter should never give an opinion on the matter and should never agree with the doctor or nurse. If the translator needs to talk to the staff, and this person is busy, the translator needs to wait until that person is completed. Medical facilities are sometimes stressful working conditions; a good medical translator will show patience and understanding, and will not interrupt the work of medical personnel.
Alex Uvarov
A & A Languages, LLC.
