A French court has sentenced former surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec to the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the sexual abuse of hundreds of patients, predominantly children, over a period spanning more than two decades.
- Advertisement -
Throughout the three-month trial, which took place in Vannes, Brittany, the extensive nature of Le Scouarnec’s crimes and the profound suffering endured by his victims became painfully apparent. This case also raises critical questions about the systemic failures that allowed such egregious acts to continue unchecked for so long.
At 74 years old, Le Scouarnec is now recognized as one of France’s most notorious serial sexual predators. Prior to this latest conviction, he had already been sentenced in 2020 to 15 years for the rape and sexual assault of four children, including two of his own nieces.
Presiding judge Aude Buresi emphasized the severity of Le Scouarnec’s crimes, stating, “The acts committed are of particular gravity due to their number, the young age of the victims, and the compulsive nature of the offenses.” This 20-year sentence for aggravated rape is the maximum allowable in France, as sentences for individual counts do not accumulate.
Interestingly, the court dismissed a rare request from prosecutors that Le Scouarnec continue to be supervised in a treatment facility after his release, citing his alleged “desire to make amends” as a mitigating factor. The prosecutor pointed out a stark contrast with the United States, noting, “Had this occurred there, Le Scouarnec could have faced a sentence of 2,000 years.”
During the trial, the surgeon confessed to sexually assaulting or raping 299 patients, 256 of whom were under the age of 15. These heinous acts occurred in hospitals between 1989 and 2014, frequently while his victims were under anesthesia or just regaining consciousness.
He faced a total of 111 charges of rape and 189 charges of sexual assault.
Outside the court, survivors organized a protest, bearing signs reading “Never again” and “I accuse you.” They also held signs representing the 355 victims identified in Le Scouarnec’s case, including those whom Manon Lemoine described as “forgotten victims” or those whose cases had been dismissed. Lemoine said, “We want to be together.”
Another victim, Celine Mahuteau, poignantly reached out to President Emmanuel Macron, expressing concern that France has yet to adopt a national policy aimed at preventing pedophilia.
In a closing statement, Le Scouarnec remarked, “I am not asking the court for leniency. Simply grant me the right to become a better person.” His counsel, Maxime Tessier, noted the “exceptional” nature of the surgeon’s full confession, yet Le Scouarnec has indicated he will not appeal his conviction.
Le Scouarnec has acknowledged feeling “responsible” for the deaths of two victims, including Mathis Vinet, who tragically passed away after an overdose in 2021, with family members suggesting suicide as the cause. Disturbingly, Le Scouarnec kept meticulous records of his offenses, documenting victims’ names, ages, and the specific nature of the abuse, stating in his notes that he considered himself a “major pervert” and a “pedophile,” even expressing a troubling sense of pride about it.
Advocates for child safety argue that this case highlights systemic failures that permitted Le Scouarnec’s behavior to persist. In 2005, he received a mere four-month suspended prison sentence linked to the purchase of child sexual abuse material, yet he was allowed to continue practicing medicine without undergoing treatment.
While Le Scouarnec has issued apologies to his victims, many question their sincerity, labeling his attempts as almost mechanical throughout the trial. “You are the worst mass pedophile who ever lived,” remarked Thomas Delaby, a lawyer representing the victims, referring to Le Scouarnec as an “atomic bomb of pedophilia.”
There is palpable frustration surrounding the public response to this trial, with some believing it has not garnered the attention it warrants, particularly when compared to the case of Dominique Pelicot, who was jailed last year for orchestrating the assault of his ex-wife.
Health Minister Yannick Neuder has committed to working with Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin to ensure that “never again will patients and vulnerable children” be left unprotected from predators like Le Scouarnec. He articulated the imperative for accountability: “What we want to say is never again. How did we get into this situation?”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
