My Wonderland

Language sometimes can be a significant barrier in daily communication. Today, I have met with a “shocking” chinese translator during the ward round with the doctors. Frankly, I am not sure how competent she is as a translator. She was not able to effectively translate the conversation between the patient and the doctors. One of the shocking but kind of funny example that I would like to share with you all is:

(D- Doctor & T- Translator)

D: We are going to change your antihistamine tablet for rash and itch to daily now.
T (In mandarin): The doctor is going to change your “an fei ta min” (= amphetamine) to daily now.

The minute I heard this, in my heart i said “Oh My God, are you kidding?“.. Did she know amphetamine is an illicit drug and it is totally different from antihistamine? If she did not know what is antihistamine, she could ask… But,..

Sometime we do have translator for Italian, Croatian, Greek, Bosnian and etc etc, I just wonder how accurate their translations are! Yes, Melbourne is a multicultural state and I don’t notice this until I work in this hospital! Sometimes, I also have difficulties communicating with the patients when they speak limited English. I think I need to enrol in language classes.. :p