French Ministers Face Legal Action Over Public Hospital Suicides

A complaint filed with the Cour de justice de la République accuses Catherine Vautrin, Élisabeth Borne, and Yannick Neuder of systemic failures leading to healthcare worker suicides.

The complaint, filed on April 10, 2025, by 19 plaintiffs, alleges harassment, involuntary manslaughter, and endangerment within the public hospital system.
Ministers Catherine Vautrin, Élisabeth Borne, and Yannick Neuder are accused of fostering institutional disorganization and ignoring systemic warnings about deteriorating working conditions.
Healthcare professionals and relatives of victims seek accountability for policies they claim exacerbated unbearable workloads and contributed to a wave of suicides.
The case draws on the France Télécom precedent, arguing that ministers should be held to the same legal standards as corporate leaders in cases of institutional harassment.
The complaint will undergo judicial review on June 19, 2025, with a decision on whether to proceed expected by autumn.