A retired French surgeon accused of sexually abusing hundreds of young patients over decades admitted to committing "despicable" acts as his trial began on Monday in western France.
Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, faces charges of aggravated rape and sexual assault against 299 victims, the majority of whom were children at the time. The case has raised serious concerns about the failures within France’s publicly run healthcare system.
Dressed in a black jacket and glasses, Le Scouarnec spoke in a calm voice as he confirmed his identity in a small provincial courtroom, while some of his alleged victims followed the proceedings from a nearby building.
"I have committed despicable acts," he told the court. "I am aware that the harm I have caused is irreparable. I owe it to my victims and their families to acknowledge my actions and the lifelong suffering they have endured."
His alleged abuse spanned 25 years, from 1989 to 2014, making it the worst case of child sexual abuse ever brought to trial in France.
The trial coincides with a broader reckoning over sexual crimes in the country, following the conviction of Dominique Pelicot in December for drugging his wife and allowing dozens of men to rape her.
Le Scouarnec, already serving a prison sentence for previous rape convictions, could face up to 20 more years if found guilty. However, under French law, multiple sentences for similar offences run concurrently.
Marie Grimaud, a lawyer representing some of the victims, criticised the sentencing laws, saying, "Whether you rape one child or 300, the sentence remains the same." She added that her clients hoped for dignity and recognition from the justice system rather than any expectation of justice from Le Scouarnec himself.
Le Scouarnec had prior convictions for sex crimes. In 2005, he was given a four-month suspended sentence for possessing child pornography but was still able to secure a position as a surgeon at a public hospital in Quimperlé, western France, the following year.
He continued practising in public hospitals until his arrest in 2017 on suspicion of raping his six-year-old neighbour. During the investigation, police discovered electronic diaries detailing his sexual assaults on dozens of patients.
In 2020, he was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his young neighbour, two of his nieces, and a four-year-old patient, receiving a 15-year prison sentence.
Further investigations into the records found in his possession led prosecutors to charge him with the aggravated rape and sexual assault of 299 additional victims.
Francois, one of the plaintiffs, said he was 12 when Le Scouarnec allegedly abused him and expressed anger at how authorities failed to act. "Why was this surgeon allowed to continue working with children?" he asked.
Court documents reveal that some officials at the French health ministry were aware of his 2005 conviction, yet he was still allowed to practise. The ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
Soon after he was hired at Quimperlé Public Hospital in 2006, a psychiatrist raised concerns about his behaviour to hospital management, but no action was taken. The hospital has not explained why Le Scouarnec retained his position despite these warnings.
Local prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger has launched a separate investigation into whether public bodies or individuals could be held criminally liable for failing to prevent the abuse.
Homayra Sellier, head of the child protection organisation Innocence in Danger, which is representing 40 victims, said, "It is impossible that someone could rape and assault children for so many years without others knowing."
Outside the courthouse in Vannes, a small town in Brittany, protesters gathered with banners accusing medical authorities of complicity.
The National Council of the Order of Physicians, responsible for overseeing medical ethics in France, stated that it is now working with judicial authorities to prevent similar failures in the future.
