5 Infamous Doctors from Paris

Paris, with its rich history, has seen its share of infamous figures, including several doctors who have gained notoriety for various reasons. Here are five infamous doctors from Paris:

1. Dr. Marcel Petiot (1897-1946):

• Perhaps the most notorious of all, Dr. Marcel Petiot was a French doctor and serial killer. He was convicted of murdering 27 people, but it’s believed he may have killed as many as 60. During World War II, he lured victims with the promise of safe passage out of Nazi-occupied France, only to kill them and rob their belongings.

1. Dr. Jean-Baptiste Troppmann (1849-1870):

• Not a doctor by profession, but he posed as one. Troppmann was a French murderer who killed an entire family of eight in a bid to steal their money. His crimes shocked the nation, and he was executed by guillotine.

1. Dr. Paul-Louis Simond (1858-1947):

• While not infamous for criminal reasons, Dr. Simond is known for his controversial research. He was a French physician who played a key role in discovering how bubonic plague was transmitted. He suggested that fleas were the vector, a theory that was initially met with skepticism but later proven correct.

1. Dr. Philippe Curtius (1737-1794):

• A physician and wax modeler, Curtius taught Marie Tussaud, the founder of Madame Tussauds wax museum, the art of wax modeling. While he was not infamous for any crimes, his association with Tussaud and the creation of death masks of executed individuals during the French Revolution adds a macabre element to his legacy.

1. Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893):

• Known as the “father of modern neurology,” Charcot’s methods and theories, especially concerning hysteria and its treatment, were controversial. He is best known for his work on hypnosis and hysteria at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. Some of his practices, like public demonstrations of patients in hysterical states, would be considered unethical today.

It’s important to note that while some of these doctors were genuinely criminal, others were simply controversial or associated with macabre aspects of history.