Life Sentence for French Anaesthetist Convicted of Poisoning Patients

Frédéric Péchier, a 53-year-old former anaesthetist, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for deliberately poisoning 30 patients, resulting in 12 deaths. This verdict, delivered after a lengthy four-month trial in Besançon, marks one of France's most notorious malpractice cases.

Convicted of implementing substances like potassium chloride and adrenaline into patients’ IV bags, Péchier’s actions instigated critical medical emergencies during which he often intervened as the 'saviour'. His youngest victim, a four-year-old boy, survived after suffering two cardiac arrests during a routine surgery in 2016, while the oldest was 89 years old.

During the trial, the prosecution condemned Péchier, stating, You are Doctor Death, a poisoner, a murderer. You bring shame on all doctors.
The chemicals he administered caused cardiac arrests or hemorrhages in patients, and in 12 cases, he failed to act in time to save them.

Investigations initiated in 2017 linked him to numerous deaths and medical crises at the Saint-Vincent Clinic, illustrating a disturbing pattern where adverse events ceased during his absence from the clinic. Testimonies revealed that during surgeries, he had preemptively tampered with infusion bags, leading to emergencies that he conveniently addressed, positioning himself as an essential figure in the operating room.

Despite his denial of all charges, Péchier’s contradictory testimonies throughout the trial hinted at an underlying truth. A court psychologist noted a duality in his personality, characterized as a 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' figure.

Now sentenced to at least 22 years in prison and having the option to appeal, Péchier must confront the consequences of his actions that shocked the medical community and left lasting trauma for countless families. Survivors and loved ones of victims expressed relief and closure as the judicial chapter on this disturbing case closed.