beyond medical help; medicine having no effect
A yojijukugo meaning that a patient's condition is so serious that neither medicine nor medical treatment can help. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
His condition was beyond medical help.
A more common, everyday expression meaning 'nothing can be done' or 'beyond help', not limited to medical contexts.
Means 'incurable' and is more direct and clinical than 薬石無効, which has a literary, idiomatic feel.
A yojijukugo composed of 薬 (medicine), 石 (stone, referring to acupuncture needles or mineral remedies), 無 (without), and 効 (effect). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a classical Chinese pattern for describing hopeless medical situations.