Trial of Joël Le Scouarnec Unveils Decades of Abuse and Institutional Oversight Failures

The former surgeon faces charges for 299 cases of sexual assault and aggravated rape, with colleagues and victims recounting a history of silence and missed warnings.

Joël Le Scouarnec, a former surgeon, is on trial for 299 counts of sexual assault and aggravated rape, with most victims being minors during their hospitalizations.
The accused admitted to many of the charges but claimed memory lapses about specific incidents, including those involving very young children.
Former colleagues at the Sacré-Cœur clinic in Vannes, where over 200 victims were identified, testified to being unaware of his actions, citing no suspicious behavior during his tenure from 1994 to 2004.
Victims, including his niece Alexandra, shared harrowing accounts of abuse, with some expressing frustration over years of institutional inaction despite warning signs.
Investigators revealed that many victims were unaware of the abuse until contacted by authorities, highlighting systemic failures in identifying and addressing the crimes.