Trial of French Surgeon Accused of Crimes Against 299 Patients Begins

Joël Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and rape spanning decades as victims and institutions confront systemic failures.

• Joël Le Scouarnec, 74, stands accused of 300 counts of sexual assault and rape committed between 1989 and 2014, involving 299 victims, mostly minors.
• The trial, expected to last over three months in Vannes, will address crimes documented in the surgeon's meticulous journals and digital records.
• Victims, averaging 11 years old at the time, included patients abused in hospital settings, often under anesthesia or in private consultations.
• Investigations revealed systemic failures, including ignored warnings and inadequate responses from medical institutions and law enforcement over decades.
• The case highlights broader societal and institutional responsibilities, with victims seeking accountability and justice for the unprecedented scale of abuse.

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