French Anaesthetist Dubbed 'Dr. Death' Sentenced to Life for Poisoning Patients

In a shocking case that has gripped France, Frédéric Péchier, a 53-year-old anaesthetist, has been found guilty of deliberately poisoning 30 patients and killing 12 over nearly a decade. The sentencing, which occurred on Thursday, marks a historic moment as state prosecutors classified Péchier as one of the most notorious criminals in French legal history. State prosecutor Christine de Curraize described Péchier as a serial killer, highlighting the twisted nature of his actions. Evidence presented in court revealed that he tampered with paracetamol bags and anaesthesia pouches in private clinics in Besançon, causing heart attacks in his unsuspecting victims, who ranged in age from four to 89 years old. Throughout the three-month trial, prosecutors explored Péchier's motivations for his malevolent actions. They identified a disturbing pattern where he would intervene to 'resuscitate' patients he had poisoned, positioning himself as a hero while simultaneously damaging the reputation of his colleagues. According to de Curraize, Péchier's need for control appeared to stem from his feelings of inadequacy and frustration, leading him to commit heinous acts that he treated as a way of life. Prosecutor Thérèse Brunisso emphasized that Péchier was no longer a physician but had evolved into a criminal who wielded medicine as a means to kill. Péchier has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, refuting the allegations and declaring, "I have never poisoned anyone. I am not a poisoner." Described as emotionless and lacking empathy, Péchier's privileged upbringing contrasted starkly with his depraved acts. Once praised by peers, he held a respected position in the medical field, working at two private clinics where mysterious cardiac arrests prompted investigations into his patients' unexpected complications or deaths. One of Péchier's youngest victims, a four-year-old named Tedy, suffered two cardiac arrests during a routine tonsil operation in 2016. Tedy's father, Hervé Hoerter Tarby, recounted the harrowing experience in court, expressing feelings of betrayal towards the medical profession. He stated, "What happened to us is a nightmare. We trusted medicine and we feel betrayed." Tedy, now 14, did not wish to confront Péchier in court but his father read a statement revealing the lasting trauma: "I understand that when I was only four, someone used me and my life to create problems. I need 10 minutes more than my classmates to write. I’m afraid that traces of the poisoning will stay with me all my life." Another victim, Sandra Simard, was 36 when she underwent a routine back surgery in 2017. During the operation, her heart stopped due to tampering with an anaesthesia pouch. She described enduring severe pain and ongoing health issues resulting from her experience: "My whole body is in pain. It’s as if I live in the body of an old person... but I can’t complain because at least I’m alive." Morgane Richard, a lawyer representing several of Péchier's victims, lamented the tragic truth that these patients were used as "cannon fodder" in a malicious scheme against fellow doctors. She shared the emotions felt by the victims' families, emphasizing that no one can truly understand the horror of being intentionally harmed by a trusted medical professional. As Péchier received a life sentence, he has 10 days to file an appeal. The case has raised numerous ethical questions regarding the trust placed in medical professionals and has left a community reeling from the betrayal by one of its own. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2