In a shocking and chilling case that has gripped France, former anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier, 53, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for deliberately poisoning 30 patients, 12 of whom died. The verdict was handed down on Friday following a four-month trial in Besançon, eastern France, marking one of the country’s most notorious medical malpractice cases.
Péchier, who worked at the Saint-Vincent private clinic, was found to have secretly introduced lethal chemicals such as potassium chloride and adrenaline into patients’ infusion bags. The chemicals caused cardiac arrests or severe haemorrhaging, forcing emergency interventions — often administered by Péchier himself, allowing him to present himself as a savior. Tragically, in 12 cases, the interventions were either too late or impossible, resulting in the patients’ deaths.
Among the victims was a four-year-old child who survived two cardiac arrests during routine tonsil surgery in 2016. The oldest victim was 89. Prosecutors condemned Péchier in court, saying: “You are Doctor Death, a poisoner, a murderer. You bring shame on all doctors. You have turned this clinic into a graveyard.”
Investigations revealed a disturbing pattern: when Péchier was absent from the clinic, the frequency of serious adverse events dropped dramatically, only to resume upon his return. The unusual spike in cardiac arrests was first officially noticed in 2017, after a woman undergoing back surgery suffered a heart attack linked to an abnormally high concentration of potassium in her infusion bag.
Throughout the trial, Péchier denied wrongdoing, insisting he had always upheld the Hippocratic Oath. Yet evidence and witness testimonies painted a different picture: colleagues noted he often appeared to have the solution to emergencies he himself had caused, cultivating a reputation as an indispensable savior.
Péchier’s motives were reportedly tied to professional grudges. Prosecutors argued he intended to discredit fellow anaesthetists by creating medical emergencies he alone could resolve. His actions, experts concluded, reflected a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality — outwardly respectable yet capable of grave harm. He had also attempted suicide twice, in 2014 and 2021, highlighting deep psychological turmoil.
The sentence requires Péchier to serve a minimum of 22 years, though he retains the right to appeal within ten days, which could lead to a second trial within a year. As the verdict was read, his three children wept, while Péchier remained impassive. Survivors, including Sandra Simard, expressed relief, calling the ruling “the end of a nightmare”. Another survivor, Jean-Claude Gandon, commented, “We can have an easier Christmas now.”
This case has left a lasting mark on the medical community in France, raising questions about oversight in private clinics and the trust patients place in healthcare professionals. Péchier’s crimes serve as a stark reminder that vigilance, accountability, and ethical responsibility remain crucial in medicine, where lives are entrusted to the hands of those sworn to heal.