• Frederic Péchier sentenced to life in prison for poisoning 30 patients.
• 12 patients died due to contaminated IV bags between 2008 and 2017.
• Péchier attempted to discredit colleagues by harming their patients.
• He has 10 days to appeal the court's decision.
• The case highlights severe breaches of medical ethics and trust.

A French court has sentenced Frederic Péchier, a 53-year-old anesthetist, to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of poisoning 30 patients, resulting in 12 deaths. The crimes occurred in two clinics in Besançon between 2008 and 2017, with the victims ranging in age from four to 89 years old. The presiding judge, Delphine Thibierge, declared, "You will be incarcerated immediately," highlighting the gravity of Péchier's actions, which were described as a profound violation of medical ethics according to BBC, South China Morning Post, and Le Monde.

The prosecution accused Péchier of deliberately contaminating infusion bags with drugs like potassium and local anesthetics, aiming to cause cardiac arrest or hemorrhaging in his patients. His actions were reportedly driven by a desire to discredit colleagues with whom he had conflicts. Péchier allegedly intervened to resuscitate some victims, further complicating the narrative and enabling him to present himself as a heroic figure among medical staff, reports confirm CBS News and Al Jazeera.

The investigation initiated in 2017 revealed a pattern of suspicious cardiac arrests during surgeries on low-risk patients. Over three months of trial, where many emotional testimonies were presented, the prosecutors labeled Péchier as "one of the greatest criminals in history," emphasizing the extensive harm caused by his actions. His attorney stated their intention to appeal the verdict, as reported by Le Monde and South China Morning Post.