'Dr Death' jailed for killing 12 with poison

Anaesthetist tampered with drips then played the hero

- PETER ALLEN

AN ANAESTHETIST dubbed “Doctor Death” has been jailed for life for poisoning 30 patients and killing 12 of them, while on a quest for power and revenge.

Frédéric Péchier's victims at two clinics in France ranged from just four years old to 89.

A court heard he added chemicals to their drips in a bid to discredit fellow anaesthetists.

In all but one case he was not the anaesthetist chosen for the scheduled operation but was on call for resuscitation. He went in early to tamper with the IVs.

This often triggered cardiac arrest or haemorrhaging requiring urgent theatre care, where Péchier could play saviour with an antidote. But in 12 cases the patient died. He was convicted yesterday following a four-month trial in Doubs, eastern France.

Prosecutors had told him: "You are Doctor Death, a poisoner, a murderer.