A retired surgeon in France, Dr Joel Le Scouarnec, has admitted in court to committing appalling acts against hundreds of victims, most of them children. Facing accusations of abusing or raping 299 patients between 1989 and 2014, Le Scouarnec expressed remorse and acknowledged the lasting harm caused by his actions.
“I fully understand the pain I caused, and I accept responsibility for it,” he told the court in Vannes, northwest France. The 74-year-old, dressed in a black sweater and grey shirt, spoke on the first day of what’s being called the largest child abuse trial in France’s history.
The youngest alleged victim was just one year old, with the oldest being 70. Police identified victims using detailed diaries in which Le Scouarnec reportedly documented his assaults over 25 years. Many victims were unaware of the abuse until investigators informed them.
Some were allegedly assaulted while under anesthesia or during their recovery in hospitals across northern France. Prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger described the case as highly unusual, saying, “It wasn’t the victims who came forward—it was the investigators who had to reach out to them.”
Families in France Devastated
For many, learning about the abuse has brought lifelong psychological struggles into focus. Families have described the devastating impact on their loved ones, including one grandmother who believes the abuse contributed to her grandson’s death by suicide.
Le Scouarnec has been in prison since 2017 for abusing four children, with a conviction in 2020. His defence lawyer, Maxime Tissier, said his client admits to most charges and cooperates with the court.
However, during earlier police questioning, Le Scouarnec initially claimed his diaries were fictional fantasies. The presiding judge, Aude Buresi, dismissed this explanation, highlighting the disturbing level of detail in the entries as evidence of their authenticity.
Victims’ advocates and child protection groups are critical of how Le Scouarnec was able to continue working with children for so long. In 2005, the FBI reportedly notified French authorities about his activity on child abuse websites, which only resulted in a suspended sentence.
Later, while working at a hospital in Quimperlé, concerns were raised after Le Scouarnec allegedly made inappropriate comments about a young patient. Despite this, the regional medical association found no breach of professional ethics, allowing him to continue practising.
The association has since filed charges against Le Scouarnec for damaging the medical profession’s reputation. However, this has drawn criticism from advocates, who argue the association should not position itself alongside victims in court.
Proceedings have seen emotional testimony from survivors and their families, while psychologists and support dogs have been made available to those attending. Protesters outside the courthouse called for an end to what they described as a “code of silence” that allowed the crimes to continue for decades.
Sessions are scheduled to run until June, with some closed to the public at the plaintiffs’ request. Le Scouarnec’s family members, including his ex-wife and siblings, were set to testify on the second day of the trial.
As the trial unfolded in France, one observer wanted to better understand how such actions could happen. “I want to see what a person like this is capable of,” she said outside the courtroom.
