Gastric lavage is now known to be ineffective, unnecessary or hazardous in some circumstances where it used to be performed as a routine. Adverse effects are more likely to occur when gastric lavage is performed forcefully without the patient’s cooperation.¹ There was little clinical evidence in support of gastric lavage improving prognosis in an acutely intoxicated state.^2,3

In South Korea, there was the case of a patient who ingested …