Overview

• Joël Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, is accused of 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults committed between 1989 and 2014 across multiple hospitals in western France.
• A collective of 37 victims has expressed concerns about being sidelined in the trial process, citing logistical arrangements that distance them from the courtroom and their legal representation.
• Le Scouarnec's crimes were documented in detailed journals and files, yet he continued practicing medicine despite a 2005 conviction for possession of child pornography.
• The case highlights systemic failures, including a lack of action by medical authorities and the justice system, which allowed Le Scouarnec to operate with impunity for decades.
• Victims and advocates hope the trial will spark broader societal and judicial reforms in addressing pedocriminality and supporting survivors.