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2d ago

French Surgeon Admits to Abusing Nearly 300 Patients as Trial Nears Verdict

Joel Le Scouarnec, already serving a 15-year sentence, faces a potential 20-year term for decades of abuse, with a verdict expected Wednesday.

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Defendant Joel Le Scouarnec's demeanour has sometimes frustrated victims
Joel Le Scouarnec admitted during the trial to sexually abusing all 299 victims
The defence lawyers Thibaut Kurzawa and Maxime Tessier may seek to argue that the contrition of the former surgeon is genuine

Overview

  • Joel Le Scouarnec confessed to sexually assaulting or raping 299 patients, mostly minors, between 1989 and 2014 in hospitals across western France.
  • The prosecution has requested the maximum 20-year sentence and post-release supervision in a treatment center for the convicted surgeon.
  • Le Scouarnec's defense acknowledged his guilt, emphasizing his contrition and personal evolution during his time in prison.
  • The trial has exposed systemic failures in France's healthcare and judicial systems that allowed Le Scouarnec to continue practicing despite prior convictions.
  • Victims and their families criticized the lack of media and political attention on the case, calling for systemic reforms to prevent future abuses.