PARIS — France is preparing for a historic child sex abuse trial that has been described as the largest of its kind in the nation’s history. The trial will focus on a single individual, a 74-year-old former surgeon named Joël Le Scouarnec, who stands accused of raping or sexually assaulting 299 victims, the majority of whom were young patients. Activists are looking to this trial as a potential catalyst for encouraging other victims to come forward and bringing to light the numerous abusers protected by cultural taboos.
At the heart of this case are the horrifying notebooks kept by Le Scouarnec, in which he meticulously documented years of sexual violence. The trial is set to begin on Monday in Vannes, a city located in the Brittany region of northwestern France, and is expected to last four months. Although Le Scouarnec does not refute the charges against him, he claims not to recall every detail of his actions. Many survivors have no memory of the assaults that occurred while they were incapacitated during surgeries performed by this doctor.
This trial coincides with a growing movement among activists advocating for a shift in the narrative surrounding sexual abuse. Recent high-profile cases, such as that of Gisèle Pélicot—who was drugged and raped by her ex-husband—have brought more attention to these issues and emphasized the need for change. Organizations dedicated to child protection, women’s rights, and the medical community believe that this trial represents a crucial opportunity to foster a new environment in which victims are believed and protected while offenders face justice.
Le Scouarnec’s actions span several decades, and he could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment on charges of rape, sexual assault, and committing violent acts of indecency. The legal proceedings trace back to 2017 when a 6-year-old girl accused him of touching her across a fence separating their properties. Following this allegation, a search of his residence led to the shocking discovery of over 300,000 images along with 650 videos depicting pedopornographic, zoophilic, and scatological content. Notebooks detailing his predatory conduct and identifying himself as a pedophile were among the findings.
In 2020, Le Scouarnec was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual assault and rape of multiple children, including two of his nieces and one young patient. Investigations revealed that he had been abusing children as far back as 1985 and 1986, though some of those cases could not be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations. The upcoming trial will delve into rapes and other forms of abuse that occurred from 1989 to 2014, involving a total of 158 men and 141 women, with an average victim age of 11 at the time of the incidents.
The doctor employed a troubling method of disguising his sexual misconduct as medical procedures, taking advantage of young patients who were too naive to fully comprehend what was happening to them. Amélie Lévêque, one of the victims, reflected on her experience, saying, “I remembered the post-operation, a surgeon who was quite mean. I cried a lot, but I didn’t think something like that had happened to me.” Learning that her name was listed in Le Scouarnec’s notebooks overwhelmed her. “That was the beginning of answers to a lifetime of questions, and then it was the beginning of the descent into hell,” she recounted, indicating the emotional turmoil that followed the revelation of her abuse.
Le Scouarnec’s defense attorney has stated that the accused intends to respond openly to the court, as he prepares to confront his reality. However, concerns have emerged regarding why this case did not come to light sooner. Le Scouarnec was previously convicted in 2005 for possessing and importing child pornography, which led to a suspended sentence. Nonetheless, he still managed to secure a position as a hospital practitioner the following year, thanks to administrative delays that allowed his prior offenses to go unchecked.
Child protection organizations have participated in the ongoing court proceedings as civil parties. The lawyer for L’Enfant Bleu has stated that a primary aim is to incite changes to the legal framework to prevent another situation like this from arising. The Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children has emphasized the importance of societal awareness, asserting that “child abuse careers are built, not by monsters, but by all witnesses’ successive silences.” They urged every individual, particularly those in positions of authority, to act and advocate for change.
