Medical interpreting in assisted reproduction clinics in Spain: Female interpreters’ experiences and roles

Abstract

..This article examines the role of interpreters in private assisted reproduction clinics in Spain, a sector that attracts international patients due to the high quality of the healthcare system and favourable legislation. Based on questionnaires and interviews with more than twenty professionals in the field, the study explores both working conditions and the specific tasks carried out by interpreters in a highly specialised and emotionally sensitive environment. The findings reveal a predominantly female professional profile, with interpreters undertaking responsibilities that go beyond translation and interpreting. Furthermore, despite strong appreciation from patients and medical staff, interpreters report a lack of institutional recognition. The study highlights the need for greater professionalisation, regulation, and institutional acknowledgement of the interpreter’s role in this context, emphasising their crucial contribution to healthcare quality and intercultural communication