ASTA-USA Highlights Risks of AI in Medical Translations

Use of web-based translation tools has caused devastating medical errors and patient harm, highlighting the need for professional human translators.

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 10, 2024 / Hospitals' reliance on flawed online translation tools and unskilled translators has harmed or killed dozens of patients. ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc., a leader in professional document translation services, warns that using AI translation services or unvetted translators can endanger patients and expose institutions to legal risks and reputational damage.

A 2023 investigation by the British Broadcasting Company revealed translation issues contributed to over 80 cases of infant fatalities or serious brain injuries between 2018 and 2022 in the UK. Hospital staff often used online translation tools for communicating complex medical issues to non-English speaking patients.

Notable cases include a Sudanese woman in Gloucester who died post childbirth due to communication errors and a Syrian woman in Glasgow who suffered a life-threatening bleed and underwent a procedure without proper consent. In South Florida, a mistranslation led to a misdiagnosis, resulting in a boy becoming quadriplegic.

"Entrusting critical medical translations to AI tools or unverified freelancers can lead to significant patient risks," said Alain J. Roy, founder and CEO of ASTA-USA. He emphasized the importance of using subject matter expert translators. Studies by UCLA Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center support this, showing AI translation tools' unreliability in clinical settings.