Doctor ‘poisoned 30 patients to show off resuscitation skills’ but 12 died

Frederic Pechier, 53, is alleged to have poisoned dozens of patients in order to rush in and appear to save them from death by reviving them – although 12 of them died

A French doctor accused of poisoning 30 patients so he could resuscitate them has gone on trial after 12 of them died.

Frederic Pechier, 53, ha been an anaesthetist at two clinics in Besancon, about 254 miles southeast of Paris, when patients began going into cardiac arrest in dubious circumstances in the years between 2008 to 2017. Tragically, 12 could not be resuscitated.

The doctor is alleged of triggering instances of heart attacks in patients so she could then show off resuscitation skills and also discredit co-workers. His alleged youngest victim was identified as 4-year-old called Teddy who survived two heart attacks during a tonsil operation in 2016.

Pechier’s oldest alleged victim was 89 with a trial being launched after evidence was gathered. The doctor has denied the charges against him. He was greeted by several relatives as he arrived in court, with one heard shouting: “Come on, Fredo.” Pechier told network TRL: “It’s necessary to lay all the cards on the table.”

When asked about the suffering of family members who had been patients, Pechier said: “I understand it completely but on the other hand, I am not responsible for their distress.”

The doctor, a dad of three, faces life behind bars should he be convicted, reported MailOnline^[1]. Pechier has not practised medicine since 2017 and has not come into contact with patients, despite being authorised to work in 2023.

The case was bemoaned as “unprecedented in French legal history,” according to prosecutor Etienne Manteaux. An investigation into Pechier began in 2017 following a number of suspicious cardiac arrests on low-risk paients.

He is alleged to have tampered with his colleagues’ anaesthesia pouches to create operating room emergencies so he could then intervene to show off his apparent capabilities at resuscitating. Manteaux said: “What he is accused of is poisoning healthy patients in order to harm colleagues with whom he was in conflict. Frederic Pechier was the first responder when cardiac arrest occurred. He always had a solution.”

But his defence team is set to argue for an acquittal. One of Pechier’s lawyer’s Randall Schwerdoffer said: “It’s very easy to accuse people, it’s harder to prove things.”

For the first two weeks in court, Pechier’s most recent cases will come under scrutiny before each of the alleged poisonings are examined in greater detail. Stephane Giuranna, a lawyer for several civil parties told AFP: “It’s going to be a legal marathon, but we’re ready. All roads lead to Pechier.”