French Court Sentences Doctor to Life for Poisoning 30 Patients

A French court sentenced former anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier to life in prison on Thursday after convicting him of intentionally poisoning 30 patients at two clinics in the eastern city of Besançon, resulting in 12 deaths over nearly a decade.

The crimes occurred between 2008 and 2017, when Péchier, now 53, contaminated intravenous bags with substances including potassium, local anaesthetics, adrenaline and the anticoagulant heparin. These actions triggered cardiac arrests or haemorrhages in patients undergoing routine procedures, many of whom were considered low-risk. Prosecutors argued that Péchier targeted the patients to discredit colleagues with whom he had professional conflicts, while sometimes intervening to resuscitate them and appear heroic. The victims ranged in age from four to 89 years old.

Presiding Judge Delphine Thibierge announced the verdict after a trial that lasted more than three months. "You will be incarcerated immediately," she told Péchier, who showed no visible emotion as he was taken into custody. Family members in the courtroom broke down in tears. Péchier has denied any involvement since the investigation began in 2017 and plans to appeal the...