French court hears another sexual violence case: Surgeon accused of abusing anaesthetised children
A major child abuse trial is set to begin in Vannes, north-west France, as former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec faces allegations of sexually assaulting or raping 299 children.
Most of his alleged victims were former patients in hospitals across Brittany and were unconscious under anaesthesia at the time of the abuse, which took place between 1989 and 2014.
This case, one of the largest of its kind in French legal history, follows years of investigation and raises serious concerns about institutional failures. Despite warnings, including an FBI alert that he had accessed child abuse websites, Le Scouarnec, 73, continued to practice, with authorities and those around him failing to intervene.
Le Scouarnec has been in prison since 2017 after he was arrested on suspicion of raping his nieces, now in their 30s, as well as a six-year-old girl and a young patient. In 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
After his arrest, the police found child-sized ‘sex dolls’ and child abuse images, and a diary in which he documented assaults he allegedly carried out on young patients over 25 years. He has denied the charges, claiming the diary entries were merely “fantasies”, despite writing on several occasions “I am a paedophile”.
Now facing more than 100 rape charges and more than 150 counts of sexual assault, Le Scouarnec’s trial comes just months after the landmark case of Gisèle Pélicot, which sparked major debate around how French law defines rape and consent, particularly in cases where victims are unconscious and therefore unable to consent.
The case highlighted gaps in existing legislation and paved the way for greater scrutiny of how the justice system handles sexual violence cases.
Among his alleged victims, two men who recalled their abuse later took their own lives. Many others had no memory of what happened to them until they were contacted by police, disrupting the ordinary lives they had built.
Like with the Gisèle Pélicot case, this is a crucial moment for survivors to be heard and for meaningful change to be pursued.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we are dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence through trauma-informed legal representation within the context of English law. We work to hold perpetrators and institutions accountable while advocating for reforms that prioritise survivors’ rights.
The Le Scouarnec case highlights the urgent need for stronger protections and accountability. If you or a loved one has been affected by sexual violence, we offer free, confidential advice to help you understand your legal options.
