GPs warned against relying on Google Translate amid lack of interpreters

Researchers have warned GPs against relying on Google Translate amid interpreter shortages, after finding it could put patient safety at risk.

The University of Limerick researchers conducted a scoping review of international literature, focusing specifically on the use of AI-powered translation tool Google Translate while consulting with refugee and migrant patients that do not share the same language as their GP.

Their study found that ‘interpreters are not routinely available in many healthcare settings’ and therefore ‘AI is increasingly used as a pragmatic alternative’. However, it found this usage comes amid ‘a lack of any evidence that an AI-powered tool can support synchronous interpretation safely’. 

The studies included identified ‘inaccuracies, failure to capture dialectal or contextual nuance, and lack of support for low-literacy users’ with the tool.  They also included reported ‘hallucinations’, where the app produced entirely fabricated text. 

Further, the paper described the ‘lack of regulatory oversight’ as ‘deeply problematic’ and said it left ‘questions about data security, patient consent, and clinical accountability’. 

It concluded: ‘There is no evidence that using Google Translate to synchronously communicate medical information to refugees and migrants has been tested for patient safety, highlighting potential for translation inaccuracies impacting patient safety.

‘In clinical settings, where the high stakes of failure are ever-present, such inaccuracies can result in misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and serious harm.’

In response, the authors recommended ‘discontinuing’ any AI-powered tools for consultations which are ‘not specifically designed, developed, or validated for medical interpretation’. It also proposed clinicians and practice managers carry out ‘detailed risk assessments for any AI tool used to communicate with patients’. 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has specifically warned GP practices of the risk of hallucination when AI tools are used for tasks like transcribing and summarising appointments. GPs are asked to report all adverse events or suspected inaccuracies to the Yellow Card Scheme.

NHS England has said transcribing software performing more sophisticated tasks like summarisation would likely be within the MHRA’s remit as ‘medical devices’, with their enhanced role meaning staff using the technology should have mandated training.

Last year, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report found AI’s increasing role in healthcare across Europe has not been accompanied by basic legal safety nets needed to protect patients and health workers.  

Pulse has approached Google for comment.