French doctor suspected of poisoning over 50 patients

A French doctor already charged with poisoning seven patients was taken into custody for questioning over the suspected poisoning of around 50 other patients.

Frederic Pechier worked as an anaesthesiologist at two private clinics in Besancon, eastern France, when seven patients, aged 37 to 53, went into cardiac arrest from 2008 to 2017.

Two of the patients died while the others were resuscitated. Investigators later found lethal doses of potassium in their blood.

Pechier, who was first charged in May 2017, has denied the allegations and was released pending trial.

The two-year inquiry has led police to expand their focus to “around 50 reports of unwanted events,” medical jargon for unexpected complications or deaths among patients otherwise considered healthy, the source said.

Via France 24