Experts: 'CSI' Science Is Inaccurate

See Also: 'Dead Woman Walking' Episode Guide

The Society of Nuclear Medicine lodged a complaint with CSI network CBS recently, voicing its concerns of recent inaccuracies in a CSI: Miami episode.

In the episode in question, 'Dead Woman Walking', an addict receives an injection of radioactive iodine that causes his flesh to melt away, and ultimately his death. According to USA Today however, with around 16 million Americans receiving similar therapy safely each year the CSI producers "fell far short of their goal of presenting accurate scientific information," said society chief Michael Gelfand.

Mistakes raised by the society in the complaint include the fact that "radioactive iodine is distributed as a pill, not as an injection, to treat an overactive thyroid," and that "it would not cause melting flesh, only minor skin burns at worst."

However, CBS hit back at the complaints. Spokesman Chris Ender said: "The writers, producers and researchers for CSI: Miami go to great lengths to make each episode as scientifically accurate as possible within the limits of a 44-minute TV drama. Let's be clear here. We're doing a dramatic television show, not a documentary."

Robert Thompson, a professor of media and popular culture at Syracuse University, also defended the show. "Writers take liberties on every drama, otherwise it would be deadly boring," he said. "That's why people watch ER and don't go down to the emergency room and sit in the lobby to be entertained."

The original article can be found here at USA Today.

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