"The defendant will be immediately taken into custody", `Le Monde` reported on 18/12, quoting presiding judge Delphine Thibierge. Pechier showed no emotion upon hearing the verdict, while his relatives cried in court.

Some victims expressed relief at the court's ruling. "This is the end of a nightmare", Sandra Simard told AFP. She survived a sudden cardiac arrest during back surgery at age 36. Subsequent tests revealed potassium levels in her iv bag were 100 times higher than the usual prescribed dosage.

Jean-Claude Gandon, who was poisoned during a urological surgery at age 70 while Pechier was the anesthesiologist, shared: "Now we can have a peaceful Christmas."

Pechier's lawyer, Ornella Spatafora, stated that her client would appeal.

Former French anesthesiologist Frederic Pechier. Photo: AFP

The indictment stated that from 2008 to 2017, Pechier injected potassium chloride, local anesthetics, or adrenaline into the iv bags of patients under the care of his colleagues at two clinics in Besançon, eastern France. This act caused victims, ranging from children 4 years old to elderly people 89 years old, to suffer cardiac arrest or acute hemorrhage during surgeries considered low-risk.

Prosecutors asserted that Pechier's motive was to "satisfy a thirst for power" and "psychologically attack" colleagues with whom he had conflicts. By creating these complications, Pechier had the opportunity to appear as a "savior", directly intervening and demonstrating superior resuscitation skills when other doctors were at a loss.

Investigations revealed that Pechier was always the first to arrive when an incident occurred and quickly provided the correct solution. However, subsequent tests found potassium levels in the victims' bodies to be 100 times the permissible limit, leading authorities to open a case in 2017.

Throughout the three-month trial, Pechier consistently maintained his innocence, blaming professional errors by his colleagues. While admitting a poisoner was lurking in the clinic, the defendant asserted, "that was not me". Former colleagues described Pechier as skilled but possessing an "overly large ego". A 2019 psychological profile also indicated the defendant had a "controlling personality" with many unusual traits.

French anesthesiologist Frederic Pechier (second from right) is escorted by prison authorities to court for his sentencing in the trial for intentionally poisoning 30 patients, including children and adults, resulting in 12 deaths, in Besançon, eastern France, on 18/12. Photo: AFP

This case concludes a scandalous year for French healthcare, following the sentencing of retired doctor Joël Le Scouarnec to 20 years in prison in May for sexually assaulting nearly 300 patients over 25 years of practice.

Binh Minh (According to Le Monde, AFP)