In two women aged 76 and 29 years, who presented with cholangitis and small ductus choledochus calculi and with painless icterus respectively, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was carried out with papillotomy. Both developed a duodenal perforation which, however, could not be localized. The first patient eventually died, the second recovered after prolonged hospitalization. A third patient, a 53-year-old man, developed abdominal pain and fever four days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. ERCP was planned, but in the meantime the patient showed signs of recovery. The ERCP was carried out nevertheless. It failed and the patient suffered a prolonged recovery with necrotizing pancreatitis and multiple operations necessitating a temporary colostoma. In all three patients the endoscopic procedure was performed routinely without strict individualized indication. ERCP and papillotomy may be relatively safe procedures, but it should always be considered whether they will really serve the patient.