October Novel Prep Challenge

Yes, but it is not quite definitive. I am going to try and post this again. The first time didn't work for some reason. I am giving you an addy if you would like to read it - it is very interesting and the conclusion to the report---interesting.

addy: Simon, G. (2023). Detection of Fatal Potassium Overdose: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Diagnostics, 13(7).

https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13071339

Conclusion of the report:

The threshold of lethal potassium dose is around 15mEq for intravenous and 300mEq for oral overdose, but in cases of oral overdose, even much larger doses reaching 1000mEq can be survived if treated in time. The threshold for lethal potassium blood concentration is 9-10 mEq/L.

Because of the factors described above, it can be stated that the potassium level at the time of death cannot be assessed reliably by the post-mortem potassium levels of different body fluids, so post-mortem biochemical analysis has only limited diagnostic value in potassium overdose cases. The best feasible way to prove potassium overdose is the collection and analysis of circumstantial evidence, which underlines the importance of accurate death scene investigation.

Now I gotta come up with him finding the death scene so he can start gathering evidence.

Kristina