Medical translation is one of the most difficult forms of translation. A medical translator has to use a culturally sensitive language and the right medical terminology to convey the intended meanings of medical documents. He or she needs to make sure that all the information, terms, and instructions in the source documents are translated with perfect accuracy, because a minor mistake can have devastating effects on patients and their family members. As such, medical translation can only be performed by someone who has sufficient medical knowledge and experience.
Medical translators are mostly divided into two categories, which are generalists and specialists. A generalist medical translator deals with a wide range of medical documents, which can be related to the administrative aspect of a medical facility, basic medical procedures and instructions, and others. Such a translator only needs to have basic or intermediate medical knowledge. A specialist medical translator, on the other hand, translates documents that contain information on a specific field of medicine. He or she has to possess an in-depth understanding that specialization, including all the medical terms that are used.
Medical translation is needed in medical facilities that have a substantial number of patients who speak a foreign language, global medical products manufacturers, international medical organizations and associations, and other establishments. Medical documents that require translation can be clinical, biological, pharmaceutical, or toxicological in nature. They include patient information and records, hospital discharge summaries, health instruction manuals, medical equipment manuals, medical product specifications, clinical study reports, medical charts, medical questionnaires, medical books, brochures, medical-related legislation, insurance claim information, and others.
A medical translator needs to possess outstanding reading and writing skills, so that he or she can fully understand the meaning of the source documents and relate the information with perfect accuracy and good fluency in the target documents. He or she must have a good command of both the source language and the target language. Medical documents are mostly complex, and they cannot be translated well by someone who has just average language skills. The translator also has to be familiar with the writing style and tone that are used in medical documents, so that the translated documents will look more professional. However, the style of writing can vary from one kind of medical documents to another. For instance, translations of medical marketing materials may be written in a more informal style and tone, whereas a clinical study report has to be more informational.
As more and more medical facilities, medical product manufacturers, and medical organizations are gaining global influence, there is a dramatic increase in the demand for medical translators. Presently, there are numerous medical translators offering their services on the Internet. If you are looking for a reliable medical translator, it is recommended that you contact Axis Translations. This UK translation agency only hires translators who can meet certain qualification standards, so that it can provide the highest quality translations possible. Its experienced medical translators have translated numerous medical documents, and they can produce translations that are accurate, error-free, and professional-looking.
