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Off topic: Medica Errors due to poor Interpreting
Thread poster: yolanda Speece
yolanda Speece
yolanda Speece  Identity Verified
Local time: 19:48
English to Spanish
+ ...
Apr 18, 2005

Does anyone know of any cases, accounts or stories where a poor interpretation or translation resulted in or could potentially result in a medical error?

I remember hearing of one in Miami regarding a young male who showed up at his girlfriend's house and said he was suffering from an "intoxicación" before passing out.(he did not say what he was intoxicated with). The paramedics misinterpreted it to mean drug overdose. This resulted in the patient's current vegetative state. D... See more
Does anyone know of any cases, accounts or stories where a poor interpretation or translation resulted in or could potentially result in a medical error?

I remember hearing of one in Miami regarding a young male who showed up at his girlfriend's house and said he was suffering from an "intoxicación" before passing out.(he did not say what he was intoxicated with). The paramedics misinterpreted it to mean drug overdose. This resulted in the patient's current vegetative state. Does anyone know of any other cases like this? Please indicate the source if you have it available. Thanks! ▲ Collapse
 
Sonja Tomaskovic (X)
Sonja Tomaskovic (X)  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 02:48
English to German
+ ...
Poor interpreting in medical settings Apr 18, 2005

Hi,

I found this link

http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=News&storyid=109910

with a couple of examples. However, AFAIK, no professional interpreter has been involved in any of these cases.

HTH.

Sonja
 
Parrot
Parrot  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 02:48
Spanish to English
+ ...
A few more Apr 18, 2005

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/111/6/1495

(footnotes provide further links)

http://www.ahrq.gov/research/apr03/0403RA20.htm

The case you mentioned was pu... See more
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/111/6/1495

(footnotes provide further links)

http://www.ahrq.gov/research/apr03/0403RA20.htm

The case you mentioned was published: http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002276.html

Very interesting related study:

http://www.accessproject.org/downloads/c_LEPreportENG.pdf

Case in Tucson: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=border_news&story_id=041304a1_spanishinhosp_mai

Lead-ins to these articles start with such an error:

http://www.slhi.org/publications/policy_primers/pdfs/pp-2004-04.pdf

http://ntiaotiant2.ntia.doc.gov/top/docs/nar/pdf/066004023n.pdf

Hope these help. ▲ Collapse
 


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Medica Errors due to poor Interpreting






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