History Main / ShotToTheHeart

* Clark does this to Chloe in the second season ''{{Series/Smallville}}'' episode "Truth".

* In the pilot episode of ''Series/{{Treadstone}}'', John Bentley is given a sedative by the MadScientist who's brainwashing him, but he's able to escape and make it to a treatment room where he stabs his thigh with an adrenaline auto-injector before he passes out.

The trope was made popular by 1994's ''Film/PulpFiction'' when hitman Vincent Vega does it to save the life of Mia Wallace, who has OD'd on heroin and also happens to be his boss's wife. Today it's right up there with a [[InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy tracheotomy]] when you need some [[RuleOfDrama drama]], but in reality, this is a '''''[[WorstAid very bad idea]]''''' and a good way to kill your patient. While epinephrine is used to treat several ailments from anaphylactic shock to cardiac arrest, no doctor since about 1990 would ''ever'' treat a patient by stabbing them in the heart with a giant needle. In the past, an intra-cardiac injection ''was'' used very sparingly, but only by trained medical personnel, only if the heart was ''completely'' stopped and only if every other option was exhausted. In a modern hospital, if you need a drug to get to the heart quickly, it goes into a vein, with chest compressions used to move the blood in the event of cardiac arrest.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action,]]
* As shown in the page image, in ''Film/PulpFiction,'' Vincent does this to Mia since they don't want a drug lord's wife going to the hospital with an OD. In reality, she almost certainly would have died unless 911 was called. The epinephrine may have restarted her stopped heart, but it would do nothing about the heroin still in her system, and she'd probably be tachycardic from the epi. The primary cause of death in a heroin overdose is ''respiratory'' failure; the heart only stops when the brain dies due to the lack of oxygen.
** In real life, one of the primary treatments for heroin OD is a large injection of ''naloxone'', which temporarily reverses respiratory failure caused by opioid overdose. But, like epi, you slam naloxone into a vein or a large peripheral muscle and very much not into the heart.

* In ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands'', after Vaughn is shot with a StaticStunGun his entire becomes immobile for several hours which also prevents him from blinking. Upon meeting with Cassius, Vaughn is immediately stabbed with a syringe and is revived, albeit being heavy dehydrated.

* At one point in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare3'' you need to press X to do this to Soap.

* In ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'', The Coon[=/=]Cartman, after rescuing Super Craig[=/=]Craig Tucker from a large rift of "lava" (red LEGO bricks), produces a ''real'' syringe with real drugs out of nowhere and forcefully stabs Craig in the chest in it. Given that the whole superhero jig and everything involved with it is a (mostly) harmless roleplay, Craig is quick to call Cartman out on this, lampshading the RealLife ramifications of the trope in the process. When Toolshed[=/=]Stan derisively asks the Coon where he even got the syringe to begin with, he simply says "online" [[spoiler:which foreshadows his ultimate role in the story.]]

* In ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'', The Coon[=/=]Cartman, after rescuing Craig from a large rift of "lava" (red Lego bricks), produces a ''real'' syringe with real drugs out of nowhere and forcefully stabs Craig in the chest in it. Given that the whole superhero jig and everything involved with it is a (mostly) harmless roleplay, Craig is quick to call Cartman out on this, lampshading the RealLife ramifications of the trope in the process. When Toolshed[=/=]Stan derisively asks Cartman where he even got the syringe to begin with, he simply says "online" [[spoiler:which foreshadows his ultimate role in the story.]]
-->'''Craig:''' What the [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] was that, you asshole?!\\
'''Cartman:''' It was an intracardiac injection Super Craig, I had to stabilize you.\\
'''Craig:''' ''[[WhatTheHellHero Are you fucking serious right now?!]]'' ''You could have fucking killed me!''

The trope was made popular by 1994's ''Film/PulpFiction'', when hitman Vincent Vega does it to save the life of Mia Wallace, who has OD'd on heroin and also happens to be his boss's wife. Today it's right up there with a [[InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy tracheotomy]] when you need some [[RuleOfDrama drama]], but in reality, this is a '''''[[WorstAid very bad idea]]''''' and a good way to kill your patient. While epinephrine is used to treat several ailments from anaphylactic shock to cardiac arrest, no doctor since about 1990 would ''ever'' treat a patient by stabbing them in the heart with a giant needle. In the past, an intra-cardiac injection ''was'' used very sparingly, but only by trained medical personnel, only if the heart was ''completely'' stopped and only if every other option was exhausted. In a modern hospital, if you need a drug to get to the heart quickly, it goes into a vein, with chest compressions used to move the blood in the event of cardiac arrest.

* As shown in the page image, in ''Film/PulpFiction,'' Vincent does this to Mia, since they don't want a drug lord's wife going to the hospital with an OD. In reality, she almost certainly would have died unless 911 was called. The epinephrine may have restarted her stopped heart, but it would do nothing about the heroin still in her system, and she'd probably be tachycardic from the epi. The primary cause of death in a heroin overdose is ''respiratory'' failure; the heart only stops when the brain dies due to the lack of oxygen.

* Clark does this to Chloe in second season ''{{Series/Smallville}}'' episode "Truth".

* Parodied in ''Series/TimeGentlemenPlease'', with a scythe instead of a syringe, and a strong spanish beer for adrenaline.

* A constant reminder to soldiers during NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) warfare training: Do NOT inject yourself or anyone else in the heart. Stick the auto-injector into the thigh or buttocks, instead.

* ''Franchise/{{Emergency}}'' liked this trope, although it was usually done through the patient's skin and muscle, rather than right into the heart with the chest open. This was TruthInTelevision for some situations in the 1970s, however -- all the procedures and treatments performed by the paramedics were [[ShownTheirWork taken directly from LA County's EMS protocols at the time.]] The paramedics themselves never did a shot directly to the heart; they always administered meds through the IV. The direct heart shots were always done properly by the doctors in the ER, after everything else failed, and were also shown to not work. If a situation hit the point where the docs did the shot to the heart, you know the victim's [[KilledOffForReal not going to make it.]]

-->-- '''Two Evil Monks''', Recap of "[[Recap/FireflyE08OutOfGas Out of Gas]]" from ''Series/{{Firefly}}''

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:{{Comics}}]]

* One arc of ThePunisher has Frank rescue a mafia don from a South American prison camp by firing a syringe into the don's heart via sniper rifle, firing a sarin grenade into the compound (the syringe was an antidote), injecting himself in the heart, and dragging the don out. If you're wondering why ''Frank'' is [[PayEvilUntoEvil pulling a criminal out of the clutches of other criminals]], he spells it out at the end, when the don is reunited with ''all'' his captains, underlings, and anyone remotely important in a single room... then Frank shows up, M60 in hand.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* Done twice in the ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' episode "[[Recap/FireflyE08OutOfGas Out of Gas]]."

--> Jack: "Can't you just inject something right into his heart?"
--> Dr. Spaceman: "I'd love to but we have no way of knowing where the heart is."
* Happens on ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' - though it's 1912 and this is a new and relatively unusual treatment, and thus [[CoolOldLady Isobel]] has to go behind the stuffy, snobbish Dowager Countess's back to get the doctor to try it on a patient who would otherwise die.
* ''Franchise/{{Emergency}}'' liked this trope, although it was usually done through the patient's skin and muscle, rather than right into the heart with the chest open. This was TruthInTelevision for some situations in the 1970s, however - all the procedures and treatments performed by the paramedics were [[ShownTheirWork taken directly from LA County's EMS protocols at the time.]]
** The paramedics themselves never did a shot directly to the heart; they always administered meds through the IV. The direct heart shots were always done properly by the doctors in the ER, after everything else failed, and were also shown to not work. If a situation hit the point where the docs did the shot to the heart, you know the victim's [[KilledOffForReal not going to make it.]]

[[folder:{{Music}}]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]

* In ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'', The Coon[=/=]Cartman, after rescuing Craig from a large rift of "lava" (red Lego bricks), produces a ''real'' syringe with real drugs out of nowhere and forcefully stabs Craig in the chest in it. Given that the whole superhero jig and everything involved with it is a (mostly) harmless roleplay, Craig is quick to call Cartman out on this, lampshading the RealLife ramifications of the trope in the process:
--> '''Craig:''' What the [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] was that, you asshole?!
--> '''Cartman:''' It was an intracardiac injection Super Craig, I had to stabilize you.
--> '''Craig:''' ''[[WhatTheHellHero Are you fucking serious right now?!]]'' ''You could have fucking killed me!''
** When Toolshed[=/=]Stan derisively asks Cartman where he even got the syringe to begin with, he simply says "online" [[spoiler: which foreshadows his ultimate role in the story.]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

[[folder:RealLife]]

* Injecting potassium directly into the heart is one way that veterinarians euthanize small sedated animals, as it swiftly halts heart contractions.
** Similarly, potassium can be injected into the human heart to stop it during cardiac surgery.

A subtrope of ArtisticLicenseMedicine. Compare HealingShiv. See also InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy and MagicalDefibrillator for similar use of emergency medical procedures for drama. [[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] shooting someone in the heart with a weapon.

* Reviving another player in VideoGame/{{Resident Evil 6}} shows a short sequence of you kneeling by their side, then stabbing them in the chest with... something. Whilst they're still conscious. It's never made clear what's being used - it could even possibly be an empty fist being punched into the chest in a very misguided attempt at CPR. Again, on a conscious patient able to call for help.

--> '''Super Craig:''' What the [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] was that, you asshole?!
--> '''The Coon:''' It was an intracardiac injection, Super Craig, I had to stabilize you.
--> '''Super Craig:''' ''[[WhatTheHellHero Are you fucking serious right now?!]]'' ''You could have fucking killed me!''

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "Rixty Minutes", we see an alternate universe Jerry who never married Beth and became a super-famous actor (if the movies we see in this universe are any indication, Creator/TomHanks levels of famous actor). At one point, we see this Jerry on copious amounts of several substances, including a hypodermic needle sticking out of his chest (indicating this treatment was done to him off-screen).
[[/folder]]

The trope was made popular by 1994's ''Film/PulpFiction'', when hitman Vincent Vega does it to save the life of Mia Wallace, who has OD'd on heroin and also happens to be his boss's wife. Today it's right up there with a [[InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy tracheotomy]] when you need some [[RuleOfDrama drama]], but in reality, this is a '''''very bad idea''''' and a good way to kill your patient. While epinephrine is used to treat several ailments from anaphylactic shock to cardiac arrest, no doctor since about 1990 would ''ever'' treat a patient by stabbing them in the heart with a giant needle. In the past, an intra-cardiac injection ''was'' used very sparingly, but only by trained medical personnel, only if the heart was ''completely'' stopped and only if every other option was exhausted. In a modern hospital, if you need a drug to get to the heart quickly, it goes into a vein, with chest compressions used to move the blood in the event of cardiac arrest.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "Rixty Minutes", we see an alternate universe Jerry who never married Beth and became a super-famous actor (if the movies we see in this universe are any indication, TomHanks levels of famous actor). At one point, we see this Jerry on copious amounts of several substances, including a hypodermic needle sticking out of his chest (indicating this treatment was done to him off-screen).

* A constant reminder to soldiers during NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) warfare training: Do NOT inject yourself or anyone else in the heart.

* In ''Film/TheRock,'' NicolasCage does the self-administered version to counter the effects of poison gas. At least he uses the right drug. Rather than epinephrine, he injects atropine, which along with pralidoxime and possibly diazepam is the correct treatment. Just not directly to the heart.

** The paramedics themselves never did a shot directly to the heart; they always administered meds through the IV. The direct heart shots were always done properly by the doctors in the ER, after everything else failed, and were also shown to not work. If a situation hit the point where the docs did the shot to the heart, you know the victims [[KilledOffForReal not going to make it.]]

** The paramedics themselves never did a shot directly to the heart; they always administered meds through the IV. The direct heart shots were always done properly by the doctors in the ER, after everything else failed, and were also shown to not work.

Shot to the Heart is when an injection of adrenaline (clinically termed epinephrine) is administered directly into a patient's heart, usually by a forceful stab. This can be done for a number of reasons, usually to restart a stopped heart or to restore or maintain consciousness. If the injured person is particularly {{badass}} or [[{{Determinator}} determined]], he may even do it to himself so he can stay conscious long enough to save the day.

Shot to the Heart is when an injection of adrenaline is administered directly into a patient's heart, usually by a forceful stab. This can be done for a number of reasons, usually to restart a stopped heart or to restore or maintain consciousness. If the injured person is particularly {{badass}} or [[{{Determinator}} determined]], he may even do it to himself so he can stay conscious long enough to save the day.

The trope was made popular by 1994's ''Film/PulpFiction'', when hitman Vincent Vega does it to save the life of Mia Wallace, who has OD'd on heroin and also happens to be his boss's wife. Today it's right up there with a [[InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy tracheotomy]] when you need some [[RuleOfDrama drama]], but in reality, this is a '''''very bad idea''''' and a good way to kill your patient. While epinephrine (adrenaline) is used to treat several ailments from anaphylactic shock to cardiac arrest, no doctor since about 1990 would ''ever'' treat a patient by stabbing them in the heart with a giant needle. In the past, an intra-cardiac injection ''was'' used very sparingly, but only by trained medical personnel, only if the heart was ''completely'' stopped and only if every other option was exhausted. In a modern hospital, if you need a drug to get to the heart quickly, it goes into a vein, with chest compressions used to move the blood in the event of cardiac arrest.

* The song "Kickstart My Heart" by MotleyCrue was supposedly inspired by Nikki Sixx being revived by an adrenaline shot to the heart after almost dying of a heroin overdose.