A French court has sentenced a surgeon to the maximum of 20 years in prison after he confessed to sexually abusing hundreds of patients, the majority of whom were children, over a span of more than two decades.
The three-month trial of Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, uncovered the magnitude of his offenses and the pain endured by his victims, while also prompting inquiries into why actions were not taken sooner to prevent him.
Le Scouarnec, among the most notorious convicted sex offenders in France’s history, was already serving a 15-year sentence, imposed in 2020, for the rape and sexual assault of four children, including two relatives.
The presiding judge, Aude Buresi, imposed the maximum 20-year sentence for aggravated rape, as French law does not permit the accumulation of sentences for individual counts.
“The severity of the acts was acknowledged, considering the number of victims, their young age, and the compulsive nature of the crimes,” the ruling stated.
However, the court denied a rare request from prosecutors for him to be held in a treatment and supervision facility post-release, citing his “desire to make amends” for his actions.
The prosecutor noted that in the United States, Le Scouarnec could potentially face “2,000 years” in prison for similar crimes.
During this trial, which commenced in February in Vannes, Brittany, Le Scouarnec admitted to sexually assaulting or raping 299 patients—256 of whom were under 15—at various hospitals from 1989 to 2014, many while they were anesthetized or recovering from surgeries.
He was charged with 111 counts of rape and 189 counts of sexual assault.
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‘Never again’ – survivors protest outside court
Survivors of the surgeon’s abuse gathered outside the court in Vannes, holding banners reading “Never again” and “I accuse you”.
They displayed signs representing 355 victims of Le Scouarnec.
This figure included “forgotten victims and those whose cases have been dismissed,” according to Manon Lemoine, one of the survivors.
“We want to stand united,” she remarked.
Another victim, Celine Mahuteau, wrote to President Emmanuel Macron, conveying that France has yet to adopt a national strategy “to combat paedophilia.”
Protesters held signs listing the names of the victims alongside one stating ‘never again’ during a demonstration outside the courthouse.
“I am not seeking leniency from the court,” Le Scouarnec declared during his closing statement on Monday.
“All I request is the chance to become a better person,” he added.
Maxime Tessier, one of the lawyers, urged the court to consider the “exceptional” nature of Le Scouarnec’s admission of guilt for all charges.
Nonetheless, Le Scouarnec has decided not to appeal his conviction, Mr. Tessier confirmed.
The retired surgeon also expressed his belief that he was “responsible” for the deaths of two of his victims—Mathis Vinet, who died from an overdose in 2021 under circumstances his family deems suicide, and another man found dead in 2020.
Le Scouarnec meticulously documented his offenses, cataloging his victims’ names, ages, addresses, and details of the abuse.
In his notes, he referred to himself as a “major pervert” and a “paedophile,” stating, “And I am very happy about it.”
Advocates highlight systemic failures
Victims and child rights advocates assert that this case highlights systemic shortcomings that permitted Le Scouarnec to continue committing sexual offenses.
In 2005, he received a four-month suspended sentence after investigators linked his credit card to the online purchase of child sexual abuse material.
Yet, Le Scouarnec was neither mandated to undergo treatment nor prohibited from practicing medicine.
While he has requested forgiveness from his victims, many have expressed skepticism regarding the authenticity of his apologies, which he repeated almost mechanically throughout the trial.
“You are the worst mass paedophile to ever exist,” said Thomas Delaby, a lawyer representing the victims, characterizing Le Scouarnec as an “atomic bomb of paedophilia.”
Some have voiced frustration that the trial did not garner the attention in France they had anticipated.
The case has not received the same focus as Dominique Pelicot’s, who was imprisoned last year for orchestrating the rape of his ex-wife by multiple strangers.
However, Health Minister Yannick Neuder stated that he would collaborate with Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin to ensure that “never again will patients and vulnerable children” be at risk from predators.
“What we seek to convey is never again,” he told France Info. “How did we find ourselves in this situation?”
