By Fardous Bahbouh, PhD researcher in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Leeds. 

Linda’s story began with hope! She had journeyed with her husband, Mike, to Libertyland, a little island nation on planet Bureaucratopia. They were eagerly anticipating the birth of their second child.

Linda went to hospital thinking it was for a routine check-up. There, she was induced into labour without a clue about what was happening. No heads up for Mike either. The hospital staff tried an interpreting phone line.

But just hours after their baby arrived Linda died- an entirely avoidable tragedy. A delay in treatment!

Libertyland’s equality laws are remarkably robust. They offer interpreting services, such a progressive step for the Bureaucratopia Planet. The only minor hiccup is these interpreting services are outsourced to private translation companies that pay interpreters a mere pittance.

Linda’s case, although heart-breaking, is far from unique. Women who don’t speak the local language are 25 times more likely to die during childbirth. The system is, as always, failing them.  

Recently, the Libertyand Parliament -bless their diligent souls- announced an inquiry into court interpreting. A very important work, no doubt. But what about hospitals? Where’s the inquiry into healthcare interpreting? How much is an alien life really worth?

And here we are, a few years since Linda’s death, and not much has changed.

What if a Catherine goes to give birth in a hospital today?

Would she meet the same fate?

Who’s to blame?

Is it the hospital?

Or is it the translation companies for prioritizing profits over people?

Or the government for outsourcing essential services with all the quality control of a broken vending machine?!!

Disclaimer: This AI-generated video is a fictional story inspired by real-life events. Any similarities in names and locations are intentional.