Ravindra Fernando

TL;DR: Use of safer pesticides should result in fewer deaths, just as the change from barbiturates to benzodiazepines has reduced the number of deaths from pharmaceutical self-poisoning.

TL;DR: Data indicate that in countries where pesticides are commonly used in acts of self-poisoning, import controls on the most toxic pesticides may have a favourable impact on suicide.

TL;DR: The survey has shown that INTEON technology significantly reduces the mortality of patients following paraquat ingestion and increases survival time, most likely by reducing absorption.

TL;DR: The introduction of pesticide regulations in Sri Lanka coincides with a reduction in suicide rates, with evidence of limited method substitution.

TL;DR: Although enquiries to the National Poisons Information Centre in Sri Lanka averaged only 0.5% of poisoning hospitalizations, they were sufficiently representative of the national pattern to predict that increasing utilization of the NPIC would offer a much needed service, both for children currently under-represented in telephone inquiries, and for suicidal events where the mortality far exceeds that of other countries.