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Verdict Due in Trial of Ex-Surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec for 299 Sexual Abuses

The court will decide his fate after hearings that laid bare institutional oversights, revealing the scale of alleged abuses.

Overview

  • The 57-day trial in Vannes examined accusations that the 74-year-old surgeon assaulted and raped 299 mostly minor patients between 1989 and 2014.
  • In his closing statement, Le Scouarnec expressed remorse, asked for a chance to regain his humanity and waived any appeal for leniency.
  • A panel of five magistrates in the Morbihan criminal court is set to deliver its verdict on May 28, with a conviction carrying up to 20 years of imprisonment.
  • Survivors gave mixed responses to his apology, with many feeling relieved to share long-silenced trauma even as doubts remained.
  • Victims and advocacy groups have urged mandatory reporting laws and stricter medical oversight to prevent future abuses and bar convicted practitioners from care roles.