Willie RamirezAn 18-year old was taken to a hospital unconscious. The misinterpretation of one word resulted in a $71 million lawsuit and a baseball player's quadriplegia, or paralysis of all four limbs.
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Gricelda ZamoraA 13-year old usually interprets, but she was too sick to interpret for herself. After a night of observation, her parents did not fully understand the doctor's orders, leading to her death.
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The Tran FamilyA 9-year old interpreted for herself until she collapsed due to a prescription reaction. Her 16-year old brother then attempted to translate, but when doctors learned, it was too late.
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An 18-year old baseball player, Willie Ramirez, was taken to a Miami hospital unconscious, accompanied by family and others who were not fluent in English.
The word “intoxicado” in Cuban Spanish means food poisoning, not the assumed definition of the word intoxicated, which means being affected by alcohol or drugs. Family and friends tried to explain that Willie Ramirez had food poisoning due to a hamburger he ate earlier that day at a fast food restaurant, but he was diagnosed with an intentional drug overdose and was treated accordingly. In this case, no qualified interpreter was called. The misinterpretation of one word led to a life-changing, fatal medical error, a $71 million lawsuit, and worst of all, the boy who played baseball being left quadriplegic and paralyzed. This tragic case could have been avoided if a professionally trained interpreter was present to accurately convey the thoughts of Willie Ramirez’s family and friends. |
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