Open the World of French Medical Translation: Bridging the Language Gap in Healthcare

Posted by Ethan N. on July 27, 2023.

One of the most significant fields in the world now is medicine generally. Medical translation is required to link researchers and experts from all over the world. Projects requiring French medical translation must be carried out by experts who have a deep understanding of the relevant medical subjects. The content of the source document must be accurately translated into French for medical purposes, and it must also be customized for the intended French reader.

Table of Contents

1. The Importance of French Medical Translation

A medical translation covers a wide range of topics in the medical industry, such as the translation of information about pharmaceutical products, translations of significant product information for medical devices used in procedures like hip and knee replacements, research findings, and patient medical notes and reports.

One advantage of medical translation is that it aids in the implementation of necessary care for patients under their care who are unable to communicate with them in a way that is clear and understandable in their language.

2. Challenges in French Medical Translation

Specialized Terminology

The medical translation must be accurate because it affects people’s lives and livelihoods. There is always a demand for experts who are well-versed in unique medical and healthcare languages. Regardless of whether the language refers to a drug, a patient’s health, or a disease they are suffering from, it is nonetheless specific. Specific terminology that is only used in this area and needs special knowledge to understand is present.

You must confirm that the translators they are working with are the primary subject matter experts. The medical translator needs to be extremely fluent in a variety of languages and should be qualified to practice medicine in that particular field.

The individual should be more knowledgeable about the session’s technical jargon. They ought to be able to give nurses and doctors, who are paying close attention to patients, highly useful documentation.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

There are regulatory criteria for French medical translation that must be followed when it comes to regulations. Any LSP that is worth its salt will adhere to these strictly. On a local, national, and worldwide level, organizations like the EU, EMA, FDA, MDR, and EDQM have a set of clearly defined limits and requirements. These rules cover the following in order to safeguard the patient’s safety as well as the caliber of the supplies and information:

Correct design and layout, as well as an accurate translation and usage of terminology
Data protection
A simplified management structure
Specific languages for which a translation is required
Always keep in mind that rules can change.

For instance, all LSPs must comply with the new EU Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) as of 2020.1 Medical labels and the number of languages per applied device call for more stringent legal guidelines. The same is true of other forms of medical content, such as medical mobile apps, for which regulatory authorities will have a stringent set of guidelines governing application kinds, labeling laws, and language.

french-medical-translation-2

3. Best Practices for French Medical Translation

Certified Translators

Medical translators must be certified in medical translation and adhere to strict guidelines in order to provide accurate translations. Some of the top medical translators are also licensed physicians.

To perform their job correctly, a qualified medical translator needs to have a thorough understanding of these rules. Otherwise, linguistic mistakes could result in drug approval delays or even rejections.

Glossaries and Style Guides

The first step in the translation process is to gather all the materials that will be translated as well as any supplementary documents that may be useful. The following are examples of this: earlier translations, style manuals, glossaries, terminology databases, etc.

Working together with your LSP is the ideal method to develop medical translation style guides and glossaries that will help your French medical translation projects. Your staff can receive guidance from them regarding the layout and, more significantly, the content of your medical glossaries and style guidelines. They’ll also provide further details on the integration of glossary file formats with other LSP platforms, such as Translation Memory. Work with your LSP to develop glossaries and style guides that are effective for all parties involved, including your internal team members, devoted Project Managers, and the individual translators translating your documents, if you want them to help your translation projects.

Human Review and Editing

Since accuracy is essential for medical translation, after the translated file is returned, many quality control procedures are carried out.

A second linguist reviews the finished translation first. The translation is then evaluated through Quality Assurance (QA). Third, to verify for any errors, the target text is translated back into the source text. A medical professional then reviews the final draft.

french-medical-translation-3

4. The Role of Technology in French Medical Translation

As we’ve already mentioned, CAT Tools is a technical authority that may be very helpful in producing precise and consistent material. Its effectiveness also speeds up turnaround time and lowers costs. One of the reasons you should pay attention to an LSP’s technical authority is because of this.

For this reason, a top-notch LSP will have the equipment and software necessary to offer these services, including remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) and video remote interpretation (VRI). For the purpose of bringing together clients and professionals from all over the world, high-quality video and audio equipment as well as a fast Internet connection must be offered. This will make it possible for medical professionals, hospitals, mental health facilities, and other organizations to offer patients from varied linguistic and cultural backgrounds round-the-clock treatment.

5. Conclusion

Are you looking for reliable French medical translation services for medical interpretation, clinical documentation, patient forms, and healthcare reports? If so, GTE Localize has the solutions to all of your problems. Our medical translation services in French and more than 100 other languages help our life sciences clients succeed internationally by being technically precise and linguistically competent.

We would be delighted to give you a custom package so you can discover what makes us unique. Our French medical translations are built on a foundation of trust and experience.