French Surgeon Faces Trial for Alleged Abuse of Nearly 300 Children

Joel Le Scouarnec, a retired surgeon, admits to decades of sexual abuse, with victims as young as six, raising questions about systemic failures in France’s healthcare system.

• Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, is accused of raping or sexually assaulting 299 individuals, mostly children, during his medical career spanning 25 years.
• The abuse often occurred while victims were under anesthesia or during hospital rounds, with some cases meticulously documented in journals found by investigators.
• Le Scouarnec has admitted to most of the charges, including the sexual abuse of his granddaughter and a neighbor’s six-year-old daughter, and called his actions 'heinous.'
• Despite a 2005 conviction for possession of child pornography, Le Scouarnec continued working in public hospitals, prompting scrutiny of systemic oversight failures.
• The trial has sparked discussions about breaking the 'law of silence' surrounding sexual abuse, with victims publicly sharing their stories to challenge societal stigma.

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