Poisoning cases in the German crime series Tatort (crime scene) from 1974 to 2022.

ABSTRACT: Poisoning occurs frequently in TV crime series but, to the best of our knowledge, has not yet been analyzed scientifically. This study examines the plausibility of poisoning cases in Germany's most popular crime series, Tatort (crime scene), from 1974 to 2022. In the TV series, the increasing rate of poisoning in Germany as well as the increasing variety of substances leading to poisoning over the years are depicted. Largely in line with reality, similar substance categories and routes of administration are presented. However, poisoning outcomes in Tatort differ from reality: over 50% of the victims die in Tatort, whereas in reality, more than 80% survive. In > 95% of the episodes, the mechanism of action of a poison is not explained, omitting an important opportunity for raising public aw

SUBMITTER: Ellerbeck R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9568490 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature