Doctor in judgment in poisoning of 30 people had a unique reason, prosecutors say

A French doctor accused of intentionally poisoning 30 children and adult patients12 of which they died, they went to trial on Monday, saying before the hearing that he was not responsible for the “anguish” of his alleged victims and their families.

Frederic Pechier, 53, worked as an anesthetist in two clinics in the eastern city of Besancon when patients entered into cardiac arrest in suspicious circumstances between 2008 and 2017. Twelve could not be resurrected.

He is accused of triggering heart attacks in patients to be able to show their resuscitation skills and discredit co -workers.

The alleged younger victim of Pechier, a 4 -year -old girl identified as Teddy, survived two cardiac arrests during a routine tonsil operation in 2016. The alleged victim of the doctor was 89 years old.

The trial limits an eight -year investigation that surprised the medical community. Pechier has denied the charges.

Pechier was received upon arrival in court by several relatives, including one that shouted: “Come on, Fedo.”

“It is necessary to place all the cards on the table,” Pechier told Broadcast RTL on early Monday, adding that he had “strong arguments” in his defense.

When asked about the suffering of the families that will attend the trial, which is expected to last until December, Pechier replied: “I understand it completely, but on the other hand, I am not responsible for their anguish.”

Pechier, father of three children, faces life imprisonment if he is convicted. It is currently not in custody, but is under judicial supervision, an alternative to the arrest prior to the trial.

“Waiting for this for 17 years,” says the victim’s daughter

Pechier has not practiced medicine since 2017, although he was authorized to work in 2023 provided that he does not contact patients.

“I have been waiting for this for 17 years,” said Amandine Iehlen, whose 53 -year -old father died of cardiac arrest during renal surgery in 2008.

An autopsy revealed an overdose of lidocaine, a local anesthetic.

Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux has said that the case is not precedents in French legal history. “

An investigation was opened in 2017 after suspected cardiac deliveries during operations in patients considered low risk.

It is suspected that Pechier manipulates the paracetamol bags or the anesthesia bags of his colleagues to create emergencies of the operating room where he could intervene to show his resurrected talents.

“What is accused of is poisoning healthy patients to damage colleagues with whom he was in conflict,” said Manteaux.

“Frederic Pechier was the first responder when a cardiac arrest occurred,” he added. “He always had a solution.”

Pechier has blamed the “medical errors” of his colleagues for most poisoning.

Pechier a “star” or a criminal?

Some colleagues described Pechier as a “star anesthetist”, while others said he found himself as arrogant and manipulative.

A co -worker said that Pechier was “sure he was the best” and liked to “think about himself as a News.”

In the course of the research, the researchers examined more than 70 reports of “serious adverse events”, medical jargon for unexpected complications or deaths among patients.

The cases of 30 patients who suffered a cardiac arrest during surgery at the Saint-Vincent clinic and the Franche-Comte polyclinic came to trial.

“It is very easy to accuse people, it is more difficult to try things,” one of Pechier’s lawyers, Randall Schwerdfer told journalists.

More than 150 civil parties will be represented in the trial.

During the first two weeks, the Court will examine the most recent cases of Pechier, those who caused the suspicions of the investigators and led to their investigation in 2017.

Subsequently, each of the poisoning attributed to the doctor will be examined.

“It will be a legal marathon, but we are ready,” Stephane Giuranna, a lawyer for several civil parties, told News. “All roads lead to Pechier.”