A court in eastern France has sentenced former anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier, 53, to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years.
Péchier was convicted of intentionally poisoning 30 patients between 2008 and 2017 at two clinics in Besançon.
Twelve of the patients died.
The youngest survivor was a four-year-old child who suffered two cardiac arrests during tonsil surgery in 2016.
The oldest victim was 89.
The court found that Péchier added chemicals such as potassium chloride or adrenaline to patients’ infusion bags.
These caused cardiac arrests or haemorrhaging during operations.
In many cases, Péchier was not the main anaesthetist.
He intervened in emergencies, diagnosing the problem and administering antidotes, appearing as the saviour.
The prosecution said Péchier acted to discredit colleagues he held grudges against.
Investigators first suspected him in 2017 after high potassium levels were found in a patient’s bag during back surgery.
Data showed “serious adverse events” at the Saint-Vincent clinic were more than six times the national average.
The events stopped when Péchier briefly worked elsewhere and resumed when he returned.
They ended after he was barred from practice in 2017.
Péchier denied the charges throughout the four-month trial.
He admitted some patients may have been poisoned but said he was not responsible.
The court rejected his defence and noted inconsistencies in his testimony.
Péchier has 10 days to appeal.
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