11 Dec Why should doctors not do medical translations?

It’s quite common for people to think that only health professionals, like doctors, pharmacists or scientists, should do medical, pharmaceutical or scientific translations. This is a fairly normal view, so there is no blame attached to having that opinion. After all, who is better to translate health-related texts than someone with an in-depth knowledge of medicine?

However, it is actually a myth that deserves to be debunked. Medical translations require specific skills that go beyond medical knowledge: they require the expertise, precision and unique skills that only a specialised translator can bring to the table. That’s why we are here to explain why doctors shouldn’t provide medical translation services.

Why shouldn’t doctors do medical translations?

While it’s true that doctors are masters of their fields and medical knowledge is essential, a high quality medical translation goes far beyond that. The aim of any translation is to ensure that the message in the target language is clear, precise and faithful to the original.

To achieve this, the person needs to have mastered translation techniques, be able to handle terminology with rigour, use specialised computer-assisted translation tools, and have a thorough knowledge of both the source language and culture and the target language and culture. Only a specialised translator has these skills and abilities.

Why should medical translators do medical translations?

Medical texts are often full of technicalities and nuances that can vary significantly from one language to another. In addition, terms do not always have direct equivalents in other languages. That’s where a professional medical translator comes in. They can handle specialised terminology and ensure that the text is clear and correct for all readers. They are the only ones who can identify the nuances that can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

When changing language, even small variations can transform the meaning of a sentence. This can have serious implications in the healthcare setting. Medical translators handle specialised language and know exactly how to convey complex information without altering its content. This is crucial in documents such as clinical reports, treatment protocols and technical manuals.

The proofreading process

In addition, the proofreading process is vital to ensure the accuracy of the final text. A specialised professional translator carries out detailed revisions and ensures that the text meets quality standards, without relying on automatic tools that cannot detect subtle errors or complex nuances.

The ideal profile: A professional translator with a background in medical sciences

A doctor may also have specialised in translation, which would be an ideal profile. However, in this case we are not simply talking about a doctor, but someone with a dual specialisation: in healthcare and in professional medical translation.

This profile is the most suitable, as it combines technical knowledge of medicine with the language and translation skills needed to convey the message accurately. But it is not the norm. Most doctors are not trained in professional translation, and therein lies the key. A specialised translator combines technical accuracy with linguistic knowledge and guarantees quality in every detail.

The profile of the ideal medical translator combines specific medical and translation training, as well as time spent perfecting linguistic techniques and specific skills to convey medical information accurately in the target language.

Why should you choose a professional translator for your medical translations?

We hope that the answer to the question “why shouldn’t doctors do medical translations?” is clear. Choosing a professional translator specialised in medical text translation ensures that the text remains scientifically accurate, accessible and clear in the target language.

Need to translate a medical document? Make sure you are in the hands of a professional who has mastered the language, medical knowledge, and the science of translation.