Q1038. What is the process for translating medical histories for international patients in Thailand?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation certified translation team

Medical histories for international patients entering Thai hospital care are a clinical document, not a legal one — the translation standard is accuracy for treating physicians, and the full legalisation chain is normally not required. The practical process: records are translated into English (the working language of Thai international hospitals) with emphasis on the problem list, past surgeries with dates, current medications with generic names and dosages, allergies, and key investigation results; discharge summaries and operative notes are the highest-value documents, while routine visit notes can usually be summarised. Translation cautions specific to medical files: drug brand names differ by country, so the generic (INN) name must be given; laboratory reference ranges differ between countries and should be transcribed with the original ranges noted; imaging and pathology reports reference specimens and studies that should accompany the translation; and handwritten entries in some countries' records need a translator who can read medical handwriting in that language. For insurance claims alongside treatment, the insurer's document requirements are separate — many insurers require itemised bills and medical certificates in English, which the Thai hospital issues directly. If the records will later support a legal claim (medical negligence, insurance dispute), the translation standard changes to certified translation — flag that use at the start. Confirm the receiving hospital's international office requirements before sending.