General Discussion

George H.W. Bush collapsed and vomited on Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa during a state dinner in Tokyo. Suffering from acute gastroenteritis and jet lag, Bush had taken the sedative Halcion (triazolam) to sleep and was likely affected by the illness, not exclusively the medication.

Key Details of the Incident:

The Incident: During the dinner at the Prime Minister's residence, a sickly Bush slumped over and vomited into Miyazawa’s lap before fainting, according to reports from Wikipedia and History.com.

Medical Factors:

Bush was suffering from a 24-hour stomach flu (gastroenteritis). He confirmed taking the prescription sedative Halcion to cope with jet lag, a drug that was under scrutiny at the time for side effects including nausea, though he was also battling an active virus.

Immediate Reaction:

He was quickly attended to by his wife, Barbara Bush, and Secret Service agents, recovering shortly after.

Aftermath:

The incident, often referred to as a "gaffe," became a major media story, spawning the slang term "bushu-suru" in Japan, meaning to "do the Bush thing" or vomit in public.