French doctor goes on trial for poisoning 30 patients

A French doctor, Frederic Pechier, went on trial in the city of Besancon, in eastern France for deliberately poisoning 30 patients, including 12 patients who died.

The 53-year-old was first placed under investigation in 2017, when he was suspected of poisoning patients at two clinics between 2008 and 2017.

However, the French doctor trial is expected to continue for more than three months, involving more than 150 civil parties representing the 30 alleged victims.

Allegations against Frederic first surfaced in January 2017 when a healthy 36-year-old suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while undergoing spinal surgery.

This incident remained suspicious because it was unexpected and occurred when Pechier was on duty. This raised concerns among his colleagues.

Another serious adverse event occurred within days when Mr Pechier claimed to have discovered three tampered bags of paracetamol after he had given a general anesthetic.

The series of consecutive events led investigators to focus on the pattern of medical emergencies happening under his care.

Mr Pechier’s lawyers said that he has waited eight years to finally prove his innocence.

Prosecutors are arguing that Pechier intentionally poisoned patients with intravenous medicines to induce cardiac arrests as a form of taking revenge against colleagues.

They say he was the “common denominator” in all the poisoning cases.

Under judicial supervision, the trial is set to continue until December, and the defendant will remain at liberty.

He would face life imprisonment if found guilty of his actions.