What is medical translation?
What is medical translation; What makes a medical translator professional; and how to choose a medical translator.
Fields Of Medical Translation
Medical translation includes all medical fields, from oncology, diabetes and radiology through orthopedics, urology and cardiology, not to mention rheumatology, plastic surgery and rehabilitation. Additional areas include pharmacology and pharmaceutics as well as dentistry. Medical translation is not limited to these areas. Fields such as cosmetics, veterinary medicine and animal food also involve medical translation.
Translation of medical documents
Medical translation involves a variety of documents:
Clinical trial documents such as informed consent forms (ICFs), protocols, patient leaflets and letters to attending physicians.
Medical summary and expert opinion letters
Labeling and packaging of medications and medical devices
Leaflets, instructions and training materials for patients and health care professionals
User manuals for medical devices and equipment
Medical translation is not limited to documents
It can also include:
Websites
Videos
Programs and applications
Medical texts containing sensitive information involving life and death, health and illnesses. Other medical content may also include trade secrets (for example, in regards to medical equipment and devices as well as clinical trials). The goal of all translation is to accurately reflect the contents of the original document. However, in medical translation, this accuracy is critical, making it vital to choose the right translator.
How to choose a medical translator
Medical translators must be thoroughly familiar with medical language. They must be aware of how health care professionals (HCP) speak among themselves and how they speak to patients. Medical translators must know medical terminology. However, knowing it is not enough. They also must have a thorough understanding of biological, physiological and pathological processes in order to clearly grasp how the terms relate to each other. Therefore, it is not sufficient for a medical translator to learn any specific terminology. Medical translators also must be familiar with the medical system and how medical systems differ from country to country. There is no doubt that acquiring such medical knowledge involves both broad learning and extensive experience.
In order to properly translate medical text, translators must be familiar with a wide and varied range of medical fields. Thus, the ideal medical translator has based medical knowledge and the ability to easily learn additional medical subjects. Clearly, it would be preferable to have your text translated by a person that is also a health care professional, such as a nurse or doctor.
An additional advantage of using a translator that is also a HCP is the knowledge that your information will remain confidential. Confidentiality is an integral part of the work of health care professionals. Therefore, such translators fully grasp the level of confidentiality required of them, even if not explicitly requested.
Need a proper translation of medical or related text by a qualified linguist with medical background?
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So thanks again!
(Investigator in a clinical trial)
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