A French court has sentenced retired surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of sexually abusing hundreds of children over several decades. The landmark ruling, delivered on Tuesday, marks one of France’s worst child abuse scandals.
Le Scouarnec, now 73, was convicted of abusing 349 victims, many of whom were under the age of 15. Investigators revealed that the abuse spanned over three decades, with offenses committed in several hospitals across France where the surgeon worked.
The case came to light in 2017 when a six-year-old girl told her parents about being abused by their neighbor — who turned out to be Le Scouarnec. That revelation prompted a thorough investigation, during which police discovered his diary detailing horrific crimes committed against young patients and even his relatives.
During the trial, which began in early 2025, the court heard gut-wrenching testimonies from survivors and reviewed mountains of forensic evidence, including handwritten confessions and clinical records. Many of the victims had no idea they had been assaulted until contacted by police years later.
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Prosecutors described Le Scouarnec as a "predator hiding behind a scalpel," using his medical authority and access to young patients to commit the atrocities undetected for decades. The court also imposed a lifetime ban on him from ever working with minors again.
The case has sparked outrage across France and renewed calls for stronger child protection protocols in medical institutions. Advocacy groups have hailed the verdict as a long-overdue measure of justice for the victims.
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