š«š· BesanƧon, France ā Frederic Pechier, a 53-year-old former anaesthetist, is set to stand trial on September 8 in one of Franceās most disturbing medical cases. He is accused of deliberately poisoning 30 patientsāranging in age from 4 to 89āduring surgical procedures between 2008 and 2017. Twelve of the patients died.
Prosecutors allege Pechier tampered with anaesthetic substances to induce cardiac arrests, allowing him to intervene and demonstrate his resuscitation skills. The motive, they claim, was to undermine colleagues and elevate his professional reputation.
The trial follows a seven-year investigation that examined over 70 adverse medical events at two private clinics in BesanƧon. Pechier, who has denied all charges, remains under judicial supervision and faces life imprisonment if convicted.
Described by some peers as a āstar anaesthetistā and by others as manipulative, Pechier has been banned from practicing medicine since the investigation began in 2017.
