Doctor on trial in poisonings of 30 people had unique motive, prosecutors say

A French doc accused of intentionally poisoning 30 kid and big patients, 12 of whom died, went connected proceedings Monday, saying earlier the proceeding helium wasn't liable for the "distress" of his alleged victims and their families.

Frederic Pechier, 53, worked arsenic an anaesthetist astatine 2 clinics successful the eastbound metropolis of Besancon erstwhile patients went into cardiac apprehension successful suspicious circumstances betwixt 2008 to 2017. Twelve couldn't beryllium resuscitated.

He's accused of triggering bosom attacks successful patients truthful helium could amusement disconnected his resuscitation skills and discredit co-workers.

Former French anaesthetist Frederic Pechier, left, adjacent to his lawyer, Randall Schwerdorffer, during a interruption connected the opening time of his proceedings successful Besancon successful northeastern France, connected Sept. 8, 2025. ROMEO BOETZLE/AFP via Getty Images

Pechier's youngest alleged victim, a four-year-old identified arsenic Teddy, survived 2 cardiac arrests during a regular tonsil cognition successful 2016. The doctor's oldest alleged unfortunate was 89.

The proceedings caps an eight-year probe that stunned the aesculapian community. Pechier has denied the charges.

Pechier was greeted connected his accomplishment astatine the tribunal by respective relatives, including 1 who shouted: "Come on, Fredo."

"It's indispensable to laic each the cards connected the table," Pechier told broadcaster RTL earlier Monday, adding that helium had "strong arguments" successful his defense.

Asked astir the suffering of the families who volition be the trial, expected to past until December, Pechier replied, "I recognize it completely, but connected the different hand, I americium not liable for their distress."

Pechier, a begetter of three, faces beingness imprisonment if convicted. He isn't presently successful custody but is nether judicial supervision, an alternate to pre-trial detention.

"Waiting for this for 17 years," victim's girl says

Pechier hasn't practiced medicine since 2017, adjacent though helium was authorized to enactment successful 2023 arsenic agelong arsenic helium doesn't travel into interaction with patients.

"I've been waiting for this for 17 years," said Amandine Iehlen, whose 53-year-old begetter died of cardiac apprehension during kidney country successful 2008.

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

Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux has said the lawsuit is "unprecedented successful French ineligible history."

A photograph taken connected Sept. 8, 2025 shows labeled boxes prepared and displayed successful the courtroom for the proceedings of erstwhile French anaesthetist Frederic Pechier successful Besancon successful northeastern France.  SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP via Getty Images

An probe was opened successful 2017 aft suspicious cardiac arrests during operations connected patients considered low-risk.

Pechier is suspected of tampering with his colleagues' paracetamol bags oregon anaesthesia pouches to make operating country emergencies wherever helium could intervene to amusement disconnected his resuscitating talents.

"What helium is accused of is poisoning steadfast patients successful bid to harm colleagues with whom helium was successful conflict," Manteaux said.

"Frederic Pechier was the archetypal responder erstwhile cardiac apprehension occurred," helium added. "He ever had a solution."

Pechier has blamed "medical errors" by his colleagues for astir of the poisonings.

Pechier a "star" oregon a criminal?

Some colleagues described Pechier arsenic a "star anesthetist" portion others said helium came crossed arsenic arrogant and manipulative.

One co-worker claimed Pechier was "certain helium was the best" and liked to "think of himself arsenic Zorro."

Over the people of the inquiry, investigators examined much than 70 reports of "serious adverse events," aesculapian jargon for unexpected complications oregon deaths among patients.

The cases of 30 patients who suffered cardiac apprehension during country astatine the Saint-Vincent Clinic and the Franche-Comte Polyclinic made it to trial.

"It's precise casual to impeach people, it's harder to beryllium things," 1 of Pechier's lawyers, Randall Schwerdorffer, told reporters.

More than 150 civilian parties volition beryllium represented astatine the trial.

For the archetypal 2 weeks, the tribunal volition analyse Pechier's astir caller cases, those that caused investigators' suspicions and led to the his being placed nether probe successful 2017.

Afterwards each of the poisonings attributed to the doc volition beryllium examined.

"It's going to beryllium a ineligible marathon, but we're ready," Stephane Giuranna, a lawyer for respective civilian parties, told AFP. "All roads pb to Pechier."