French Ministers Face Legal Complaint Over Healthcare Worker Suicides

The complaint accuses three government ministers of fostering a hostile work environment in public hospitals, linked to systemic failures and a surge in staff suicides.

A legal complaint was filed on April 10, 2025, against Catherine Vautrin, Élisabeth Borne, and Yannick Neuder, alleging moral harassment and institutional disorganization in French public hospitals.
The complaint links long-standing systemic issues, exacerbated by neoliberal reforms since 2012-2013, to deteriorating working conditions and recent healthcare worker suicides.
Plaintiffs, including healthcare workers and families of victims, aim to hold the ministers accountable under the 'France Télécom' jurisprudence for institutional harassment.
The Cour de Justice de la République will review the complaint on June 19, 2025, with a decision on whether to proceed to instruction expected this autumn.
The case highlights broader concerns about the impact of repeated reforms and budget cuts on public services and the urgent need for structural change in the healthcare sector.