Former French Surgeon Sentenced To 20 Years For Hundreds Of Sexual Assaults And Rapes

 A French court has sentenced retired surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec, 74, to 20 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of hundreds of patients—many of them children—over the course of his 25-year medical career.

Le Scouarnec admitted in court to committing what he described as “despicable acts,” and expressed remorse for the irreversible trauma he inflicted. “I’m aware that the harm I’ve caused is beyond repair,” he said at the start of the trial in February. “I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences.”

The case, widely regarded as France’s most severe instance of pedocriminality to date, has deeply shaken the country and raised troubling questions about accountability within the public healthcare system. Le Scouarnec stood accused of sexually assaulting or raping 299 victims—some while they were under anesthesia.

The abuse, which spanned decades and multiple hospitals in western France, came to light in 2017 following his arrest for the rape of a six-year-old neighbor. During the investigation, police uncovered diaries detailing a long history of abuse, as well as disturbing evidence including child pornography, wigs, and sex dolls.

Le Scouarnec is already serving a 15-year sentence handed down in 2020 for earlier convictions involving the rape and sexual abuse of a child neighbor, two nieces, and a four-year-old patient.

The recent trial, held in Vannes, Brittany, unfolded against the backdrop of a broader national reckoning over sex crimes. Public outrage has intensified following high-profile cases such as that of Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted in December of drugging his wife and allowing other men to rape her.

Outside the courthouse, dozens of survivors and rights advocates held a solemn demonstration. A large banner made of hundreds of white paper silhouettes symbolized each victim. Some bore names and ages, others were marked only as “Anonymous.”

The case has sparked widespread criticism of the medical and legal systems that allowed Le Scouarnec to continue practicing medicine despite clear warning signs. Notably, in 2005, he was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material but still retained his position in public hospitals.

In response, prosecutors have launched a separate investigation to determine whether any institutions or individuals should be held criminally liable for failing to prevent the prolonged abuse.

For many in France, the case underscores a devastating lapse in oversight and serves as a call for systemic reform to ensure such crimes are never allowed to persist unchecked again.