Former French Surgeon Sentenced 20 Years Child Sexual Abuse

Joël Le Scouarnec, a retired French surgeon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to the sexual abuse of nearly 300 patients, most of whom were children, over a 25-year period. The abuse often occurred while victims were under anesthesia or recovering from surgery, highlighting severe failures within the French healthcare system to prevent his crimes. Le Scouarnec, described as a 'devil in a white coat,' had previously been convicted in 2020 for the sexual assault of four children and was known to authorities since 2004 for viewing child sexual abuse material. Despite multiple warnings and a prior conviction for downloading illegal images, he continued to work in public hospitals for years. The trial has been one of France’s largest and most harrowing child sexual abuse cases, sparking public outrage and calls for accountability from health authorities. The court recognized the gravity and compulsive nature of his offenses but rejected prosecutors' requests for post-release supervision due to his expressed remorse.