MedicalEdge

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Friday, September 30, 2011

Author Beware: Implausible Killing Methods

Posted on 12:00 AM by Unknown
I know the difficulty writers face at having to come up with unique and unusual methods of killing off their fictional characters. Hence, the constant hunt for lethal, undetectable poisons.

One popular author came up with the following scenario for his serial killer. I read this detailed scene with great interest but in the end, the implausibility of the scenario kept me up that night. I continually analyzed the scene in my mind and wondered if the author might have posed the question to a medically sound person as to its plausibility.

In short, essentially the killer drilled holes into the victims ankles to drain her blood. This would be death by exsanguination. But then, plugged up the holes with glue. Proceeded to string the victim up. Then pulled off the glue plugs so the victim would hemorrhage to death.

Inventive... yes, absolutely. Haven't read anything quite like it. Plausible... not really. Here's why.

In order to bleed to death quickly, a major vessel needs to be disrupted. Preferably an artery. Your heels are not very vascular meaning they are not rich in blood supply. Imagine a cut on your heel and the same cut on your head. Which will bleed more swiftly? There are arteries in your feet. They are located on the top of your feet and near the inner malleolus which is the knobby bone on the inside of your foot. Drilling through the ankle into the heel likely will not catch either of these major arteries.

The other issue. Plugging up the holes. Any time bleeding is stemmed, the blood has a chance to clot. Now, in this novel, the killer was very busy for quite some time hoisting the victim. I think enough time for the victim's blood to clot. Therefore, when the plugs were removed, I think very little bleeding would have actually occurred.

What scenarios have you found in novels that are implausible? Were they enough to draw you out of the story? Please, keep the author's name and book title off any comments, otherwise they will be deleted.
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Posted in Author Beware, Implausible Killing Method | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Dr. Richard Mabry: This Little Pill Went to Market
    Monday through Wednesday this week we're celebrating Dr. Mabry whose fourth novel is coming out this week. Leave a comment on any of his...
  • Concierge Medicine
    Personally, I didn't have a lot of strong feelings about concierge medicine until my personal physician decided to convert his practice ...
  • Up and Coming
    Hey everybody... how'd the week go? Mine... interesting. Glad it is Saturday!! Here's what we have this week at Redwood's Medica...
  • Sudden Death: The Widow Maker
    I'm so excited to have Dr. David Carnahan joining Redwood's as a guest blogger because for a while now I've been wanting to do a...
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
     Dianna Benson is back for her monthly post discussing the different types of personal protective equipment healthcare professionals wea...
  • Summer Safety
    Okay-- 4th of July is tomorrow and I JUST can't help myself. In real life, I am a pediatric ER nurse and summer always brings a unique s...
  • Soderlund Drug Store Museum
      Kathleen joins us again this Friday for an interesting piece on her trip to Soderlund Pharmacy Museum.   A Charming Historical and Visual...
  • Ten Myths of Drug Addiction 2/2
    Today, we're concluding Dr. Rita Hancock's guest post on the ten myths of drug addiction. Today, we're finishing the last five. ...
  • Epidurals: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
    I'm pleased to host anesthesiologist and suspense author, H.S. Clark, as he discusses his thoughts on epidurals. Very informative post....
  • Opium Abuse during the Civil War Era: 2/2
    Author Jocelyn Green returns with another installment in her series of posts on Civil War Medicine. Jocelyn was here last week discussing ...

Categories

  • #ILoveSuspense (1)
  • 1800 (1)
  • 1830 (1)
  • 1860 (5)
  • 1890 (4)
  • 1940's (1)
  • 1950's (4)
  • 1960's (2)
  • 19th century medicine (2)
  • A Heart Deceived (3)
  • A Thousand Sleepless Nights (1)
  • A Wedding Invitation (1)
  • ABC News (1)
  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (1)
  • Abusive Head Trauma (2)
  • acetaminophen (1)
  • Addiction (4)
  • AJ Luck (1)
  • Algor Mortis (1)
  • Alice J. Wisler (1)
  • Alina Adams (1)
  • ALL (1)
  • allergic reaction (1)
  • Altered Mental Status (1)
  • Amanita Muscaria (1)
  • Amitha Knight (4)
  • Amnesia (1)
  • Amputation (4)
  • Amputee (4)
  • Amy Clipston (1)
  • anaphylaxis (1)
  • Andrew Wakefield (1)
  • Anesthesia (2)
  • Anesthesiologist (1)
  • Anesthesiology (2)
  • Anesthetist (1)
  • Animal Cruelty (1)
  • Anita Brooks (1)
  • Ankle Injury (3)
  • Ann Boleyn (3)
  • Ann Shorey (3)
  • Anna Bixby (1)
  • Antibiotics (1)
  • aorta (1)
  • aortic dissection (1)
  • Apnea (1)
  • Arrhythmia (2)
  • Arterial Bleeding (4)
  • Artery (1)
  • Asthma (2)
  • Asylums (2)
  • Atrial Septal Defect (1)
  • Author (1)
  • Author Beware (17)
  • Author Question (9)
  • AutoImmune Disease (3)
  • Autopsy (1)
  • Autumn (1)
  • Bacteria (1)
  • Barber-Surgeons (1)
  • basilar skull fracture (1)
  • Beating (1)
  • Bedwetting (1)
  • Benzodiazepines (1)
  • Bette Lamb (2)
  • Biological Passport (1)
  • Bleeding (4)
  • Blind (1)
  • blistering (1)
  • Blog Hop (1)
  • Blog Parade (1)
  • Blood Transfusion (1)
  • Blood Transfusions (1)
  • Blue Ringed Octopus (1)
  • Body Language (1)
  • bone marrow transplant (1)
  • Borrowed Time (1)
  • Botulism (1)
  • Bradycardia (1)
  • Brain (3)
  • Brain Death (4)
  • Brain Reserach (1)
  • Brain Surgery (1)
  • Brandilyn Collins (2)
  • Breaking Character Stereotypes (2)
  • Breast Cancer (1)
  • Broken Foot (1)
  • Bruising (2)
  • Bubonic Plague (1)
  • Burn Injuries (2)
  • Burns (3)
  • C-A-B (1)
  • C-section (1)
  • C.J. Lyons (2)
  • CAB (1)
  • Cancer (2)
  • Candace Calvert (3)
  • Canning (1)
  • cantharone (1)
  • car accident (5)
  • Cardiac Arrest (1)
  • cardiomyopathy (1)
  • Caregiving (2)
  • Carol Moncado (4)
  • Carrie Turansky (1)
  • Catherine Richmond (2)
  • Cerebral Edema (1)
  • Chain of Custody (1)
  • Chain of Evidence (1)
  • Character (1)
  • child (2)
  • Child Abuse (6)
  • childbirth (2)
  • Chloroform (3)
  • Christian Mama's Guide (3)
  • Christina Williams (1)
  • Christine Lewry (2)
  • chronic pain (2)
  • Civil War (10)
  • Civil War Medicine (10)
  • Closed Head Injury (1)
  • Code Simulation (1)
  • Collapsed Lung (1)
  • Comback Love (2)
  • Concentration (1)
  • Concierge Medicine (1)
  • Congestive Heart Failure (1)
  • Consciosness (1)
  • Consent (2)
  • Contest (3)
  • Contraception (1)
  • Conversion Disorder (1)
  • Coronavirus (1)
  • Coroner (9)
  • Corpse (2)
  • CPR Guidelines (2)
  • craniotomy (1)
  • Crush Injuries (1)
  • Crying (1)
  • Cryptococcus (1)
  • Cryptococcus gattii (2)
  • Cryptococcus neoformans (1)
  • CT scan (1)
  • CT Scanner (1)
  • Cure (1)
  • Cuts (1)
  • Cyanide (2)
  • D.P. Lyle (1)
  • Dale Eldon (6)
  • Dan Greene (1)
  • Dead Man's Hand (1)
  • Dean Koontz (1)
  • Death (1)
  • Debra Ullrick (1)
  • Decompression Illness (1)
  • Decontamination (1)
  • Dee J. Adams (1)
  • Defibrillation (1)
  • Dena Ratliff Dyer (1)
  • Destined Love is Immortal (1)
  • Dexter (2)
  • Diabetes (5)
  • Diagnosis (1)
  • Diagnosis Death (2)
  • Dianna Benson (17)
  • Diffuse Axonal Injury (1)
  • Disability (2)
  • Disaster Drills (1)
  • Dissociative Fugue (1)
  • DNA Testing (1)
  • DNR (1)
  • doctor (3)
  • Dog Bites (1)
  • Don't Look Back (1)
  • Doula (1)
  • Down Syndrome (1)
  • Dr. David Carnahan (3)
  • Dr. Edwards (6)
  • Dr. Mabry (3)
  • Dr. Richard Mabry (1)
  • Dr. Rita Hancock (1)
  • Dr. Tanya Goodwin (1)
  • Drowning (6)
  • drug (5)
  • drug abuse (5)
  • drug seekers (2)
  • drug test (1)
  • DV Berkom (1)
  • Eben Alexander (3)
  • ECG (1)
  • Eclampsia (1)
  • Ectopic Pregnancy (1)
  • ED Issues (1)
  • Eddie Jones (1)
  • EKG (1)
  • Elaine Clampitt (1)
  • Elaine Stock (2)
  • Elizabeth I (3)
  • Embryo (1)
  • Emergency Medicine (8)
  • Emergency Treatment (11)
  • EMS (18)
  • EMT (13)
  • EMTALA (2)
  • End of Life (1)
  • Endocarditis (1)
  • Entomology (1)
  • Epi-pen (1)
  • Epidural (1)
  • epinephrine (1)
  • ER (4)
  • ER Nursing (3)
  • Erin MacPherson (4)
  • Ether (2)
  • Exsanguination (4)
  • fainting (1)
  • Fall (1)
  • False Memories (1)
  • Family Practitioner (1)
  • Fatty Acid Oxidative Disorder (1)
  • FDA (1)
  • fellow (1)
  • Fever (1)
  • Firefighter (1)
  • Firesetting (1)
  • Firework injuries (1)
  • First Steps (1)
  • FlashPoint (1)
  • flight nursing (3)
  • Forensic Investigation (2)
  • Forensic Issues (4)
  • Fracture (3)
  • Fractures (4)
  • Fungii (2)
  • Fungus (4)
  • Garry Rodgers (4)
  • gene therapy (1)
  • Gideon's Call (2)
  • Grey's Anatomy (3)
  • Gunshot Wound (2)
  • Gunshot Wounds (1)
  • H.S. Clark (1)
  • H1N1 (1)
  • Hallucinations (2)
  • Hallucinogenic Drugs (2)
  • Hannibal (1)
  • Hannibal Lector (1)
  • HazMat (1)
  • Head Injury (1)
  • heart attack (2)
  • Heart Failure (1)
  • Heather Day Gilbert (1)
  • Heidi Cresion (1)
  • Heidi Creston (9)
  • HELLP (1)
  • hemorrhage (1)
  • Henry VIII (6)
  • Heroin (1)
  • Hidden Son (1)
  • HIPAA (7)
  • historical medicine (11)
  • HIV (2)
  • Home Deliveries (1)
  • Hospice (2)
  • hospital supplies. (1)
  • Hospitals (2)
  • Hypothermia (3)
  • ICU (2)
  • ICU Nurse (2)
  • ICU Nursing (1)
  • IICU (2)
  • Immunizations (7)
  • Implausible Killing Method (1)
  • Incubation Period (1)
  • Infant (3)
  • Infant Abduction (1)
  • Infant Delivery (1)
  • Infection (1)
  • Infertility (1)
  • Influenza (2)
  • Injuries (1)
  • Injury (1)
  • Insects (1)
  • intern (1)
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage (1)
  • IV Solutions (1)
  • J.A. Schneider (1)
  • James Patterson (2)
  • James Pence (2)
  • Jason Joyner (1)
  • JCAHO (1)
  • Jeannie Campbell (2)
  • Jillian Kent (1)
  • JJ Lamb (1)
  • JoAnn Spears (13)
  • Jocelyn Green (11)
  • Joe Navarro (1)
  • Jordyn Redwood (2)
  • Jude Urbanski (1)
  • Kara Hunt (1)
  • Kate O'Reilly (2)
  • Kathleen Rouser (5)
  • Kathy Kovach (1)
  • Ketamine (1)
  • Kill Alex Cross (2)
  • Kit (1)
  • Kristen Gasser (1)
  • Lacerations (2)
  • Lacy Williams (5)
  • Lance Armstrong (1)
  • Laudanum (1)
  • Laura McClellan (1)
  • Laurie Kingery (3)
  • Law (3)
  • Law Suit (1)
  • Lawsuit (1)
  • Lethal Remedy (1)
  • Level of Consciousness (1)
  • Life Expectancy (1)
  • Lifesaving Measure (1)
  • Lillian Duncan (1)
  • Lisa Forest (2)
  • Livor Mortis (1)
  • LOC (1)
  • Loss of License (1)
  • Lung (1)
  • Lung Cancer (1)
  • Lyme Disease (3)
  • Lyme Wars (2)
  • Lynette Eason (1)
  • Mads Mikkelsen (1)
  • Major organs (1)
  • Making IV solutions (1)
  • Malaria (1)
  • Male Nursing (1)
  • Maree Kimberley (1)
  • Mark Sloan (1)
  • Mark Young (2)
  • Marketing (1)
  • Marrying Miss Marshall (2)
  • Martha Ramirez (2)
  • Mary C. Neal (1)
  • Mary Mallon (1)
  • Mary Queen of Scots (2)
  • Mary Queen of Scots. (1)
  • Matt Patterson (2)
  • McDreamy (1)
  • Measles (1)
  • medical devices (1)
  • Medical Examiner (5)
  • Medical Inaccuracy (1)
  • Medical Malpractice (1)
  • Medical Myth (1)
  • Medical Power of Attorney (1)
  • Medical School (2)
  • Medical Thriller (2)
  • Medication dosing (1)
  • Medications (3)
  • Melissa K. Norris (1)
  • Memory (1)
  • meningitis (3)
  • Meredith Maran (1)
  • MERS-CoV (1)
  • Metabolic Disorders (2)
  • Michael King (2)
  • Micheal Rivers (1)
  • Michelle Griep (3)
  • Midwifery (2)
  • military medicine (1)
  • Milk Sickness (2)
  • Minor (3)
  • Minor organs (1)
  • Minor Trauma (1)
  • Minors (2)
  • Mock Codes (1)
  • Moore (1)
  • Morgue (1)
  • MRI scanner (1)
  • MVA (3)
  • MVC (4)
  • My Emily (2)
  • My Lie (1)
  • myocardial infarction (1)
  • Myth (3)
  • Myths (3)
  • Narcotics (1)
  • nasal cannula (1)
  • nasogastric tube (1)
  • NDE (4)
  • NDE's (4)
  • Near Death Experiences (4)
  • Neck Injury (3)
  • Necrotizing Fasciitis (1)
  • Needleless Systems (1)
  • Negligence (1)
  • Nelda Copas (2)
  • Neonatal ICU (1)
  • Neuroblastoma (1)
  • Neuroscience (4)
  • Neurosurgeon (4)
  • Neurotoxins (2)
  • Newborn (1)
  • NF (1)
  • NG tube (1)
  • NICU (5)
  • Nike Chillemi (1)
  • No Witnesses To Nothing (2)
  • nomogram (1)
  • Nose Injury (1)
  • NSAIDS (1)
  • nurse (8)
  • Nurse Practitioner (2)
  • Nursemaid's Elbow (1)
  • nursing (9)
  • OB (8)
  • Obstetrician (8)
  • Obstetrics (12)
  • occult (1)
  • Occupational Therapy (1)
  • OCI (1)
  • Off the Grid (2)
  • Office of Criminal Investigations (1)
  • Oklahoma (1)
  • Old Wives Tales (1)
  • Omni (1)
  • Once Upon a Time (1)
  • operating room (1)
  • Opium (3)
  • OR (2)
  • Orderly (1)
  • Organ Donation (1)
  • Organs (1)
  • Overdose (1)
  • Pain (2)
  • Palor Mortis (1)
  • Panic Attack (2)
  • Paralyzed (1)
  • Paramedic (1)
  • paranormal (1)
  • Patent Medicines (1)
  • Pathogens (6)
  • Pathologist (2)
  • Patient Privacy (1)
  • Paul McEuen (1)
  • Paula Moldenhauer (1)
  • Paying Medical Bills (1)
  • Pediatric ER (1)
  • Pediatric Medicine (5)
  • Pediatric Nursing (2)
  • Perinatologist (1)
  • Personal Protective Equipment (1)
  • Perspective (1)
  • Peter Golden (2)
  • Peter Leavell (3)
  • Phantom Limb Pain (2)
  • Pharmacy (6)
  • Physical Assault (1)
  • Physician's Assistant (2)
  • PICU (1)
  • PIH (1)
  • Plants (4)
  • Plaster Casts (1)
  • Pneumonia (1)
  • Pneumothorax (1)
  • Poison (6)
  • Poisoning (3)
  • Police (4)
  • Police Response (2)
  • Polio (3)
  • Pools (1)
  • Post Mortem (1)
  • Post-mortem injuries (1)
  • Post-partum bleeding (1)
  • PPE (1)
  • Preeclampsia (1)
  • Pregnancy (10)
  • Prematurity (2)
  • Preparation (1)
  • prescription drug abuse (5)
  • Prescription Drugs (3)
  • Prescription for Trouble (2)
  • Prion (1)
  • Prisoner (1)
  • Prolapse Cord (1)
  • Proof (2)
  • Prosthetic (1)
  • Psychology (1)
  • Psychopathy (1)
  • Puncture (1)
  • Putrefaction (1)
  • Pyxis machines (1)
  • Quadriplegic (1)
  • Queen Ann (4)
  • Rabies (1)
  • Rachelle Gardner (1)
  • Radiation (2)
  • Radiation Exposure (2)
  • Ramona Richards (2)
  • rape kit (1)
  • Rape Kit (2)
  • Reader's Digest (1)
  • Reanimation (1)
  • Refusal of Treatment (1)
  • Rehab (1)
  • Religious Objection (1)
  • Renee Yancy (1)
  • Repressed Memories (1)
  • Rescue Team (1)
  • resident (1)
  • Resources (1)
  • Respiratory (1)
  • Retinal Hemorrhages (1)
  • Richard Mabry (1)
  • Rigor Mortis (1)
  • Rita Hancock (1)
  • Rob Harris (2)
  • Robert P. Bennett (2)
  • Rodents (1)
  • Rule of Nines (1)
  • SAE (1)
  • SAE kit (1)
  • Salmonilla Typhi (1)
  • SANE nurse (1)
  • Sarah Sundin (14)
  • Scalp Laceration (1)
  • Scoliosis (1)
  • Scope of Practice (2)
  • Scopolamine (1)
  • scrubs (1)
  • Scuba Diving (1)
  • Seasonal Illness (1)
  • Secret Thoughts (1)
  • Sepsis (1)
  • Serial Killers (3)
  • Sexual Assault (2)
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome (3)
  • Sheila Hollinghead (1)
  • Sherri Wilson Johnson (1)
  • Shock (1)
  • Shock Treatment (1)
  • Sisters in Silence (1)
  • Smoking (1)
  • Snakeroot (1)
  • Soderlund Drug Store Museum (1)
  • Spanish Flu (1)
  • Specialty (1)
  • Speech Therapy (1)
  • Spina Bifida (1)
  • Spinal Cord Injury (1)
  • Spinning (1)
  • Spiral (1)
  • Spores (1)
  • Sprain (2)
  • Spring for Susannah (1)
  • Stacey Thureen (1)
  • Stitches (1)
  • Strangulation (3)
  • Stress Test (1)
  • Subdural Hematoma (1)
  • Submerged Vehicle (3)
  • Suffering (1)
  • Suicide (1)
  • Superstitions (1)
  • Supracondylar Fracture (1)
  • Surgery (1)
  • Surrendered Hearts (1)
  • Survival (1)
  • Suspense (1)
  • SVT (2)
  • Sweating Sickness (4)
  • Synchronized Cardioversion (1)
  • syncope (1)
  • Tanya Cunningham (1)
  • Tanya Goodwin (4)
  • Terri Forehand (3)
  • Tessa Stockton (1)
  • The Black Death (1)
  • The Bone Pit (1)
  • The Character Therapist (2)
  • The Doctor Takes a Wife (3)
  • The Eden Diet (1)
  • The HIdden Son (1)
  • The Writer's Forensic Blog (1)
  • Thimerisol (1)
  • Thin Wire (2)
  • thoracic dissection (1)
  • Through Rushing Water (1)
  • Thyroid Disease (1)
  • Tim Casey (1)
  • Time of Death (1)
  • Titanic (1)
  • To Heaven and Back (1)
  • Tornado (1)
  • Torture (1)
  • Toxicology (4)
  • Toxin (1)
  • Training (1)
  • Transfer (2)
  • Transmission (1)
  • Trauma Plan (2)
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (13)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (14)
  • Treatment of Poisoning (1)
  • trepanning (1)
  • trephining (2)
  • Triage (1)
  • Truth Serum (1)
  • TTX (1)
  • Tudor England (2)
  • Typhoid Mary (1)
  • Unforgivable (1)
  • Uterine Anatomy (1)
  • Uterus (1)
  • V-fib (1)
  • V-tach (1)
  • Vasovagal reaction (1)
  • VBAC (1)
  • Vein (1)
  • Venous Bleeding (3)
  • Virulence (2)
  • Virus (2)
  • VP shunt (1)
  • Water Safety (1)
  • Wedded to War (5)
  • western medicine (4)
  • When a Secret Kills (1)
  • Widow Maker (1)
  • Widow of Gettysburg (1)
  • Wildfire (1)
  • Wish (1)
  • With Every Letter (3)
  • Wolf Spider (1)
  • Woodpecker (1)
  • WordServe Water Cooler (1)
  • World Life Expectancy (1)
  • Wound (1)
  • Writer's Wish List (1)
  • Writing (1)
  • WWII (6)
  • X-rays (1)
  • Yellow Fever (1)
  • Zombies (6)

Blog Archive

  • ►  2013 (138)
    • ►  September (6)
    • ►  August (12)
    • ►  July (17)
    • ►  June (17)
    • ►  May (17)
    • ►  April (17)
    • ►  March (18)
    • ►  February (16)
    • ►  January (18)
  • ►  2012 (217)
    • ►  December (19)
    • ►  November (18)
    • ►  October (18)
    • ►  September (17)
    • ►  August (19)
    • ►  July (17)
    • ►  June (20)
    • ►  May (17)
    • ►  April (18)
    • ►  March (19)
    • ►  February (18)
    • ►  January (17)
  • ▼  2011 (145)
    • ►  December (16)
    • ►  November (18)
    • ►  October (19)
    • ▼  September (13)
      • Author Beware: Implausible Killing Methods
      • Author Beware: Use of Medical Equipment
      • Author Beware: Medication Concentrations
      • Not Kidding Around: Alina Adams
      • Medical Question: Life Threatening Condition 1830's
      • Old versus New Medicine: Blistering
      • Perinatal Providers: Scopes of Practice
      • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
      • Medical Question: Suicidal Pregnant Patient
      • Sorting though Disaster: Triage and 9/11
      • Ways to Induce Labor According to the Old Wives
      • Religious Objection to Medical Care
      • Visit with Colorado Coroner Chris Herndon
    • ►  August (17)
    • ►  July (15)
    • ►  June (15)
    • ►  May (13)
    • ►  April (14)
    • ►  March (5)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile