Accused of having poisoned 7 patients, including 2 fatally, Dr Péchier was placed under judicial supervision. He faces life imprisonment.
The Besançon anesthesiologist indicted for “poisoning with premeditation” was placed under judicial supervision. Against the opinion of the prosecution, the Besançon Court of Appeal decided to let the doctor free against a deposit of 100,000 euros. Frédéric Péchier is accused of poisoning 7 patients, including 2 fatally, in two Bisontine clinics between 2008 and 2017. Justice is also examining forty other suspected cases, including twenty deaths.
This affair has all of the novel The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Banned from practicing since his indictment, the anesthesiologist, presented as one of the best in his profession, claims his innocence. To the press, his family and colleagues praised his professionalism and availability. They explain that Dr. Péchier was often called in during the most complicated situations, sometimes to save patients who could have died on the operating table.
But the occurrence of 2 unexplained heart attacks on January 11 and 20 at the Saint-Vincent clinic taints the anesthesiologist’s honor roll. Both patients were in good health and were undergoing routine surgery. As in the 5 other cases identified between 2008 and 2017.
A case against a background of jealousy
For all of these patients, lethal doses of potassium and anesthetic were found in infusion bags. The investigators therefore conclude to “intentional acts”. Dr. Péchier denies this and ensures that he has not injected these molecules. “Why would I do something like this?” Would I have fun injecting toxic products into people and then going to revive them? It is completely absurd ”, he indignantly expressed himself in The Republican East.
During the hearing on March 29, his lawyer, Me Schwerdorffer, recalled that 200 people have access to the operating room. Anyone could therefore have committed the malicious act according to him. To prove it, he did not hesitate to provide the judges with a video in which he stages himself and where we can see him poisoning the infusion bags, says the Republican East.
Me Schwerdorffer also launched charges against 3 anesthetists at the Saint-Vincent clinic. These practitioners would have done everything to direct the investigation to Dr. Péchier out of jealousy, said the magistrate. With this line of defense, the lawyer tries to avoid life imprisonment for his client.
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