Joel Le Scouarnec, a 74-year-old former French surgeon, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing 299 victims—most of them children—between 1989 and 2014.
Many of the assaults occurred while patients were under anaesthesia or recovering from surgery.
Previously sentenced to 15 years in 2020 for abusing four children, including relatives, Le Scouarnec admitted to all charges during a closed-door court session in March.
He described himself as a `paedophile and a child rapist,` accepting full responsibility and stating he expected no leniency.
Throughout the 14-week trial, dozens of victims shared harrowing testimonies, revealing the lifelong trauma caused by the abuse.
Le Scouarnec documented his crimes in graphic diaries, which helped investigators identify victims—many of whom had no recollection of what happened due to the nature of the abuse.
He also admitted feeling responsible for the suicides of at least two victims, who suffered severe psychological impacts upon learning they had been abused.
Families described their loved ones’ lives spiraling into despair after the revelations.
The case has provoked public outrage over how Le Scouarnec was able to continue practicing medicine for years, even after a 2005 conviction for possessing child sexual abuse images.
Critics have condemned systemic failures in the medical establishment, accusing institutions of turning a blind eye to longstanding rumors and failing to act.
While Le Scouarnec repeatedly apologized in court, many victims and their families dismissed his expressions of remorse as insincere.
His lawyer, however, claimed he was genuinely emotional and viewed his confession as a moment of justice.
Medical authorities have acknowledged institutional shortcomings, admitting that miscommunication within their ranks allowed Le Scouarnec to continue treating patients.
Victims and advocacy groups continue to demand deeper accountability and reform to prevent similar abuses in the future.
