The cost of translation and interpreting errors and how to avoid them

The cost of translation and interpreting errors and how to avoid them

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Acting as a bridge, translators and interpreters help people and organizations understand each other better and communicate more effectively. As specialists in various fields such as  life sciences, legal, publishing, finance, insurance, manufacturing, medical, and marketing & advertising, language professionals play a key role by accurately conveying information from one language to another. However, as in any human-based task, errors are bound to happen. 

Depending on the industry and type of error, outcomes can range from harmless and humorous to ones that have a significant impact on a business’ reputation and bottom line, or even life-threatening and legal consequences. To mitigate costly translation and interpretation mistakes, proactive companies are increasingly relying on the expertise of a language service provider (LSP). 

Not every translation or interpretation error is created equal

What happens when a translation or interpretation error occurs? In best case scenarios, the translation error is caught, and the correction is made without any harm. But, this is not always the case – especially when professional translators and interpreters that adhere to strict quality control processes are not used.

We’ve taken a look at six translation and interpretation mistakes across industries and the outcomes of these errors.

  • Perhaps the most expensive interpretation error in the medical field was the case of 18-year old Willie Ramirez, who was brought to the hospital in a comatose state by his Spanish-speaking family. Using the word ‘intoxicado’, the family attempted to explain to a bi-lingual staff member that they believed he was experiencing food poisoning. The staff member translated ‘intoxicado’ to intoxicated and doctors treated him for a drug overdose. Willie actually had a cerebral hemorrhage, and the delay in treatment left the teen a quadriplegic. The misinterpretation of this single word resulted in a malpractice settlement of $71 million.
  • In yet another case within the medical field, a medical mistranslation error resulted in an unnecessary double mastectomy for a British expat living in Spain. Due to a translation error that ended up on her medical record, doctors believed that she had a family history of breast cancer, when in fact, Teresa Tarry had no family history of cancer. Although Teresa attempted to communicate with the doctors, her limited proficiency in Spanish combined with the doctors’ limited English language skills resulted in the unnecessary removal of her breasts and a lawsuit.
  • Our last medical translation and interpretation error resulted in the removal of not one, but two of Francisco Torres’ kidneys. Francisco, a Spanish-speaking California resident, entered the hospital for the removal of a diseased kidney. As instructed by hospital staff, Francisco signed the consent form that indicated which kidney was to be removed. Because the document was in English and he wasn’t provided an interpreter, he was unaware that the form listed the healthy kidney. After the hospital caught their mistake they removed the healthy kidney also, leaving Francisco with no kidneys. As reported by NBC, the Health Department cited the hospital “for errors leading up to the surgery, including failing to follow safety protocol and failing to communicate accurately with the Spanish-speaking patient.”  
  • The legal field also has its fair share of costly translation errors. Take for example the Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy) vs Ecuador case, which resulted in Oxy being awarded a staggering $1.77 billion ($2.3 billion with interest applied). Contrary to the findings, Ecuadorian representative Professor Brigitte Stern claimed that poor translation was the cause of this unprecedented award. She stated, “Had the translations been correct and the original Spanish texts been really taken into account, the conclusions arrived at by the majority would have been impossible to sustain.”
  • The medical and legal fields aren’t the only industries that face multi-million dollar setbacks. As a result of incorrectly translated instructions on baby formula, Mead Johnson was required to recall 4.6 million cans of baby formula. The Spanish translation on the formula had incorrect preparation instructions, which could result in seizures, an irregular heartbeat and even infant death. Although the company quickly recalled the formula, the translation error resulted in direct financial costs of at least $10 million, as well as damage to the company’s brand.
  • When it comes to marketing and advertising, translation blunders typically don’t result in life or death situations. However, they can be costly in terms of financial repercussions and brand reputation. For instance, HSBC bank launched their “Assume Nothing” campaign, which was translated in some countries as “Do Nothing.” To resolve this issue, HSBC was required to rebrand the campaign at a cost of approximately $10 million.

Summary

When it comes to translation and interpretation errors, there most likely will be a cost – financial, brand image, credibility or legal. By engaging with a reputable LSP, these types of mistakes can be reduced or completely avoided. 

If you’d like to learn more about how BURG Translations helps you ensure high quality translations and interpretations, contact us today.