Joël Le Scouarnec Faces Trial for 299 Cases of Sexual Abuse Over Decades

The former French surgeon, accused of abusing hundreds of patients, confronts harrowing testimonies from victims and their families during a four-month trial in Vannes.

Joël Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, is on trial for 299 counts of sexual abuse and aggravated rape, primarily targeting minors over a span of 25 years.
Victims include patients, family members, and others who were often unaware of the abuse due to the nature of the crimes and societal silence.
Alexandra, his niece and reportedly his first victim, testified about years of abuse starting in her early childhood and described the lasting psychological and physical impacts.
Le Scouarnec has admitted to many of the charges but claims to have limited memory of the events, describing his actions as driven by a 'perversion' he could not control.
The trial sheds light on systemic failures, including unreported suspicions and missed opportunities to intervene, which allowed the abuse to continue for decades.