Translation and Healthcare: saving lives through multilingual understanding

In an emergency department, every second counts. Yet when a patient and a physician do not share the same language, understanding can become a critical obstacle. Poorly described symptoms, misdiagnoses, consent forms signed without real comprehension, language barriers in healthcare represent a very real danger.

In response to this challenge, artificial intelligence (AI), real-time translation technologies, and new audio tools such as bone conduction are opening up unprecedented possibilities. This article explores the scale of the problem, its consequences for public health, and how translation, whether human or technology-assisted, can save lives.

1. Linguistic diversity in healthcare systems

Globalization, migration, and tourism have transformed hospitals into linguistic crossroads. In major cities such as Paris, London, or New York, an emergency department may receive dozens of patients speaking different languages in a single day.

United States: In 2021, approximately 25.7 million people, about 8% of the population aged five and over, had limited English proficiency (LEP) (KFF, 2021).

France: INSEE estimates that around 10% of the population uses a language other than French at home.

European Union: More than 60 million residents speak a minority or regional language, often absent from hospital support systems.

These figures highlight a universal reality: linguistic diversity is not marginal, it is structural.

2. Medical risks linked to language barriers

The consequences of miscommunication between healthcare professionals and patients are numerous and sometimes dramatic.

Misdiagnosis: A patient unable to accurately describe symptoms risks receiving an incorrect diagnosis.

Treatment errors: Misunderstood dosages, overlooked allergies, improperly followed prescriptions.

Informed consent: Documents signed without a true understanding of medical or surgical implications.

Increased stress: A patient who feels misunderstood is more anxious, complicating care.

A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (2012) shows that LEP patients experience higher rates of adverse medical events compared to English-speaking patients (Flores, 2012).

3. Economic and systemic impact

Language barriers are not only a medical risk, they also place a burden on healthcare systems.

One study shows that LEP patients consult healthcare services an average of 6.2 times per year, compared to 3.8 times for English speakers, a sign of inefficient and repetitive care (PMC, 2023).

Costs related to medical errors or readmissions increase significantly when communication is poor.

In the long term, the lack of adequate language access puts additional strain on medical resources.

Improving translation in healthcare is therefore not only a matter of equity, but also of economic efficiency.

4. The role of human interpreters

Historically, hospitals have relied on professional interpreters or cultural mediators. Their role is essential: translating accurately while accounting for cultural and emotional context.

However, this approach has limitations:

• Limited availability, especially for less common languages

• High costs for healthcare institutions

• Delays incompatible with emergency situations

In practice, family members or even children are still too often used as improvised interpreters, a risky, unreliable practice that goes against medical ethics (HAS, 2017).

5. The contribution of machine translation and AI

New translation technologies offer an alternative or complement to human interpreters.

Speech recognition: Tools such as Whisper (OpenAI) can transcribe and translate speech with unprecedented accuracy, even in noisy environments.

Medical translation applications: Some solutions are already deployed in hospitals to facilitate basic exchanges (symptoms, simple instructions).

Immediate accessibility: A physician can obtain a translation in seconds without waiting for an available interpreter.

Current limitations:

• Reduced reliability for rare dialects

• Difficulty capturing emotional or cultural nuances

• Medical data privacy concerns

Despite these challenges, AI-based translation has already demonstrated its value in emergency contexts, where speed often matters more than stylistic perfection.

6. The promise of new audio technologies

The integration of innovative audio solutions further enhances these tools. Bone conduction technology, for example, allows healthcare professionals and patients to receive translations while keeping their ears free to monitor their surroundings.

Benefits in medical settings:

• Safety: Clinicians can hear translations while remaining alert to alarms and ambient sounds

• Comfort: No intrusive headsets, suitable for prolonged use

• Accessibility: Compatible with patients who are hard of hearing

Combined with translation engines, these devices could become standard in modern hospitals.

7. The future: toward inclusive multilingual care

Looking ahead, we can envision:

• Hospitals equipped with integrated real-time translation systems, accessible via QR codes or medical headsets

• Coverage of all languages and dialects, driven by advances in AI models and initiatives such as Masakhane (focused on African languages)

• Solutions capable of capturing tone, emotion, and cultural context, not just words

These developments will help ensure real equity in access to care and reduce health inequalities.

Conclusion

Language should never be a barrier to healthcare. Yet millions of patients worldwide continue to suffer its consequences. The evidence is clear: language barriers lead to more medical errors, higher stress, and increased costs.

Thanks to AI, real-time translation, and innovations such as bone conduction, it is now possible to imagine a future in which every patient, regardless of language, receives safe, clear, and humane care.

Translation in healthcare is not a luxury.

It is a vital necessity.