Wales: Medical Risks Due to Language Issues Highlighted in Report
A report indicates that in Wales, a woman with a UTI failed to get an early diagnosis of her cervical cancer due to language barriers and reliance on her son for translation.
This led to her discovering she had stage four cancer. The Senedd report urges the provision of professional interpreters in healthcare to prevent missed or incorrect diagnoses.
The report, by the Equality and Social Justice Committee, suggests that using family members as translators is highly inappropriate and could lead to medical errors, potentially infringing on human rights.
Dr. Shanti Karupiah from the Royal College of GPs highlighted cases where patients are too embarrassed to disclose symptoms to family translators, risking misdiagnoses with potentially fatal outcomes.
One specific case involved a woman in her 50s, whose recurring UTIs were actually a symptom of advanced cervical cancer, which was only identified during a professional medical exam suggested by Dr. Karupiah. Early-stage detection was missed because of inadequate translation.
The committee has urgently requested that the Welsh government stop the practice of using family members for translation, as part of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.
Jenny Rathbone MS, chair of the committee, stressed that providing adequate interpretation services aligns with human rights and is integral to achieving an anti-racist nation.
The committee's report also found that ethnic minorities in Wales experience worse services in healthcare, education, and criminal justice. It calls for immediate action, including 10 recommendations to improve the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, ensuring professional interpreters in healthcare, reporting mechanisms for racist behavior, and promoting anti-racist agendas through education and teacher training.
The Welsh government responded, expressing commitment to the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and acknowledging the necessity of professional interpreters.
It also mentioned that the Wales Interpretation and Translation Service already offers professional services and efforts are underway to create a comprehensive directory of interpreters.
The report, by the Equality and Social Justice Committee, suggests that using family members as translators is highly inappropriate and could lead to medical errors, potentially infringing on human rights.
Dr. Shanti Karupiah from the Royal College of GPs highlighted cases where patients are too embarrassed to disclose symptoms to family translators, risking misdiagnoses with potentially fatal outcomes.
One specific case involved a woman in her 50s, whose recurring UTIs were actually a symptom of advanced cervical cancer, which was only identified during a professional medical exam suggested by Dr. Karupiah. Early-stage detection was missed because of inadequate translation.
The committee has urgently requested that the Welsh government stop the practice of using family members for translation, as part of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.
Jenny Rathbone MS, chair of the committee, stressed that providing adequate interpretation services aligns with human rights and is integral to achieving an anti-racist nation.
The committee's report also found that ethnic minorities in Wales experience worse services in healthcare, education, and criminal justice. It calls for immediate action, including 10 recommendations to improve the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, ensuring professional interpreters in healthcare, reporting mechanisms for racist behavior, and promoting anti-racist agendas through education and teacher training.
The Welsh government responded, expressing commitment to the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and acknowledging the necessity of professional interpreters.
It also mentioned that the Wales Interpretation and Translation Service already offers professional services and efforts are underway to create a comprehensive directory of interpreters.
