| Part 3: This Porridge is too Cold. | | | | quality assurance process. |
| In Part 1 of this post, we dumped on clinical trial | | | | This means that anyone who hangs their translation |
| translation in general, and in Part 2 we dumped on | | | | shingle on the web and is willing to sign a letter is |
| the gold standard of clinical trial translation. But I ain't | | | | effectively qualified to complete the translation. Even |
| done yet. Today we'll dump on everyone else. | | | | if proof of professional qualification is required, such |
| Whatever Goldilocks may say, unrealistically high | | | | as a membership in the American Translators |
| MAPI standards are less of a problem then the | | | | Association, the nuts and bolts of the translation and |
| general lack of professional translation standards | | | | validation process are often undefined. |
| often employed in the clinical trial process. | | | | Since professional services are often driven by |
| In most stateside trials, translation is notable for its | | | | costing requirements to provide one-pass services, |
| absence. Those who don't understand English are | | | | using a professional service provider is no guarantee |
| generally excluded from studies. Unfortunate, but | | | | of professional service. |
| understandable too. Declarations and reports aside, | | | | There is also a heavy reliance on interpreters for |
| investigators have to confront limits of time and | | | | real-time translation in a "short form" context, |
| money when completing their studies. So, as in many | | | | without provision for check interpreters to insure |
| endeavors, translation is the fly in the ointment and | | | | accurate understanding by the subjects. |
| the easy way is to do work around it. | | | | Both of these practices in effect permit the use of |
| When translation is employed in North American | | | | single-pass translation. The absence of any quality |
| clinical trials, standards are often low and sometimes | | | | assurance process dramatically increases the potential |
| even below the professional standards commonly | | | | for error and misunderstanding. The rate of error for |
| used in other industries. I've always found this | | | | this single-pass approach is very high and |
| surprising, considering the importance of good | | | | consequences can be serious. Checkers must be |
| translation to patient well-being, in such a closely | | | | checked too. |
| supervised and regulated space. | | | | Goldilocks' Analysis: This porridge is too cold. Any war |
| Typically, an Affidavit of Completeness and Accuracy | | | | stories out there? Did I get this right? |
| from a "professional translation" agency is all that is | | | | Next, Part 4... |
| required, without consideration of qualification or | | | | |