Former Surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec Faces Trial for Sexual Abuse of Nearly 300 Victims

Victim testimonies at the trial reveal lifelong trauma and distrust in the medical system stemming from the abuse.

Joël Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, is on trial in Vannes, France, accused of sexually abusing nearly 300 patients, including children, over decades.
Victims have shared harrowing accounts of abuse during medical procedures, with many under anesthesia, leading to lasting psychological and physical scars.
One victim, now 36, described years of depression, eating disorders, and a deep-seated mistrust of others after being abused at age 13 during a routine operation.
Another victim expressed a complete loss of trust in healthcare professionals, significantly impacting their career and personal life.
The trial has highlighted systemic failures in hospitals where the abuse occurred, with some victims questioning how such acts went unnoticed for so long.