Lost in Translation: The Hidden Danger in Healthcare

by Kausalyaa Kaliapan

Good communication is the heart of good healthcare. Doctors and nurses need to understand what patients are feeling, explain what’s going on, and talk about treatment options. But what happens when the doctor and patient don’t speak the same language? The truth is, miscommunication in hospitals or clinics can lead to serious problems; even life-threatening ones.

Let’s take a real-life example from a hospital in Malaysia. Puan Mariam, an elderly woman from a rural village in Kelantan, was rushed to the emergency room in Kuala Lumpur. She spoke only Kelantanese Malay, while the doctor was a young house officer from Sabah who wasn’t familiar with her dialect. Puan Mariam kept saying “sakit dada” (chest pain), but the doctor thought she was describing heartburn. Without a proper interpreter or someone who understood her dialect, the doctor missed the signs of a heart attack. By the time they figured it out, valuable time had been lost.

This kind of situation isn’t rare. Language barriers can cause medical errors. Patients who can’t fully describe their symptoms or don’t understand their medication instructions might take the wrong dose, or miss follow-up appointments. This isn’t just confusing; it can be dangerous. Imagine someone misreading a prescription and taking too much insulin or not enough of a heart medicine.

It’s also emotionally stressful for patients. If they don’t understand what the doctor is saying, they may feel scared, anxious, or like they’re being ignored. This is especially true for immigrants, indigenous communities, or older folks from rural areas who may not be fluent in Bahasa Malaysia or English. They might avoid seeing a doctor again because of that bad experience.

Healthcare workers are also affected. Doctors, nurses, and staff can get frustrated when they can’t understand their patients. Without proper support—like trained translators or some basic cultural training—it becomes harder for them to do their job well. It can also lead to burnout, as they struggle to provide good care while trying to guess what the patient is saying.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In Malaysia’s multicultural society, we speak many languages and dialects—Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil, Iban, Kadazan, and more. This diversity is beautiful, but it also means our healthcare system needs to keep up. Here are a few things that can help:

• Having trained interpreters in hospitals, even virtually.
• Encouraging healthcare workers to learn basic phrases in different languages.
• Using clear visuals or written instructions in multiple languages.
• Respecting cultural differences and listening with empathy.

Language barriers are not just a communication issue—they are a matter of safety, fairness, and dignity. Everyone, no matter where they come from or what language they speak, deserves to feel heard, understood, and cared for.