A shocking verdict has rocked the public in France today (Thursday) after the Besançon court sentenced doctor Frederic Péchier (53 years old), who was convicted of poisoning 30 patients including children, resulting in the deaths of 12 patients, in what the prosecutors described as using medicine to kill with the intent of harming others and satisfying his thirst for power.
Péchier worked as an anesthesiologist in two clinics in the city of Besançon between 2008 and 2017, during which he contaminated intravenous solution bags with dangerous substances such as potassium, local anesthetics, adrenaline, and heparin, leading to sudden cardiac arrests and severe bleeding among patients.
During the trial sessions that began on September 8 and lasted more than 15 weeks, the court heard painful testimonies from victims and their families, including a teenager who survived a poisoning incident when he was four years old. Meanwhile, Péchier remained in denial of the charges brought against him, asserting that there was no conclusive evidence against him.
The prosecutors described the doctor as "one of the greatest criminals in history," emphasizing that his motives were not mere medical errors but a deliberate attempt to cause psychological harm to his colleagues and to demonstrate his power and control within the workplace environment.
This verdict serves as a stern warning against any misuse of medicine in committing crimes and marks a significant milestone in the history of French judiciary, amidst wide shock in the medical community and the general public.
