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yesterday

French court sentences ex-surgeon to 20 years for abusing 299 patients, mostly children

The ruling underscores failures in medical oversight, setting the stage for planned reforms to prevent future abuse.

This courtroom sketch by Valentin Pasquier shows Joel Le Scouarnec, now 74, sitting in courtroom and accused of raping or abusing 299 people, mostly child patients. | Image: AP
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Overview

  • Joël Le Scouarnec received a 20-year term—the maximum penalty for aggravated rape—to run alongside his existing 15-year sentence.
  • Prosecutors showed he assaulted patients, primarily under 15, while they were under anesthesia or recovering from surgery across multiple hospitals.
  • Investigators relied on Le Scouarnec’s digital diaries and notebooks, which meticulously documented 299 rapes and sexual assaults.
  • His 2005 conviction for possessing child pornography did not result in license suspension, revealing critical gaps in France’s health and judicial oversight.
  • Health and Justice ministers have pledged to strengthen reporting procedures and tighten safeguards to protect vulnerable patients and deter future misconduct.