Besançon, France,19 December 2025: A French court on Thursday sentenced former anesthetist Frédéric Péchier, aged 53, to life imprisonment for deliberately poisoning 30 hospital patients, leading to the deaths of 12 people. The verdict concludes one of the most disturbing medical crime trials in recent French history and has deeply shaken public trust in the healthcare system.
The Cour d’Assises of Doubs in Besançon delivered the sentence after a four month trial that examined years of unexplained medical collapses inside hospital operating theatres. Prosecutors proved that Péchier intentionally injected toxic substances into intravenous infusion bags during routine medical procedures.
The case came to light after several patients suffered sudden cardiac arrests with no clear medical explanation. Toxicology tests revealed abnormally high levels of potassium and adrenaline in their bloodstreams. Experts testified that these chemicals, when administered in such quantities, can stop the heart within minutes.
Investigators eventually linked the poisoned infusion bags to Péchier, who had access to patients during surgery. Evidence showed that the contamination occurred shortly before procedures, ruling out accidental dosing or pharmacy errors.
One of the most pivotal cases involved Sandra Simar, a 36 year old woman who collapsed during spinal surgery. Her infusion bag was later found to contain potassium at levels far exceeding medical norms. Her case triggered a wider investigation that exposed dozens of similar incidents.
The court heard that Péchier’s victims included children, adults, and elderly patients, many of whom entered surgery with no life threatening conditions. Twelve patients died, while others survived after emergency resuscitation.
Families described the sudden and devastating loss of loved ones who had trusted the medical system with their lives. Several relatives attended the verdict hearing, some breaking down as the sentence was announced.
During the trial, Péchier partially acknowledged that some patients may have been poisoned but denied responsibility for systematic tampering. Medical experts, nurses, and forensic specialists testified over several weeks, outlining how the infusion bags were altered and how the timing consistently matched Péchier’s presence.
Prosecutors described his actions as a calculated betrayal of medical ethics. In a strongly worded statement, they accused him of turning hospital wards into places of fear rather than healing.
The jury unanimously rejected Péchier’s defense and found him guilty on all counts of poisoning and murder.
The court imposed life imprisonment, the harshest penalty under French law, citing premeditation, abuse of professional trust, and the vulnerability of the victims.
The case has sparked national debate about patient safety, hospital oversight, and the early detection of unusual medical events. Health authorities have since called for tighter monitoring of drug handling and improved internal reporting systems within hospitals.
(Rh/ARC)
