By Juliette Jabkhiro
NANTES, France – Surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec’s residence was searched by authorities in western France after he raped his 6-year-old neighbor in 2017. Among the discoveries were sex dolls, wigs, and child pornography. Additionally, electronic diaries found at the scene detailed almost thirty years of sexual assaults on hundreds of young patients across regional hospitals.
In 2020, Le Scouarnec was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of his young neighbor, two nieces, and a 4-year-old patient. Further investigations revealed charges of aggravated rape and sexual assault on 299 individuals, many of whom were children, with some allegedly abused while anesthetized during medical procedures.
On February 24, Le Scouarnec, now 74, will stand trial in Vannes, facing what is regarded as France’s largest child sexual abuse case. The accused has reportedly confessed to many of the allegations brought against him, while his legal team withheld comments ahead of the trial.
This trial emerges amid a period of heightened awareness of sex crimes in France, following the conviction of Dominique Pelicot for drugging and facilitating the rape of his wife by multiple men. The upcoming trial poses challenges for France’s public healthcare system, victims, and advocacy groups. Despite a prior child pornography conviction in 2005, Le Scouarnec continued practicing in public hospitals until his apprehension in 2017. The Health Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Francois, a plaintiff in the case allegedly abused by Le Scouarnec when he was 12, expressed hope that the trial would shed light on systemic failures. Francois, who chose anonymity, lamented feeling let down by authorities and questioned why measures were not taken to prevent the surgeon from treating children.
Following the revelation of Le Scouarnec’s diaries in 2017, investigators endeavored to locate potential victims by correlating diary entries with hospital records. Though many anesthetized patients had no memory of the purported abuse, mental health professionals documented signs of post-traumatic stress disorder in victims.
Mathis Vinet, who was 10 in 2007 when he visited Quimperle hospital under the care of Le Scouarnec, suffered a tragic fate after the experience. His grandfather, Roland Vinet, recalled the encounter with the surgeon and the subsequent deterioration of Mathis’ well-being. Mathis, allegedly mentioned in Le Scouarnec’s diary, battled substance abuse and tragically passed away at 24 in 2021.
Vinet and his wife, also plaintiffs in the case, believe Mathis took his own life, attributing his demise to Le Scouarnec’s actions. The trial is expected to uncover more disturbing details about the surgeon’s misconduct and its lasting impact on victims and
Eon’s alleged actions contributed to Mathis’ tragic death. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION Le Scouarnec received a suspended four-month jail sentence in 2005 for the possession of child pornography. Despite this conviction, he managed to secure a position as a surgeon at the Quimperle public hospital in the subsequent year. A psychiatrist at the hospital raised concerns about Le Scouarnec’s behavior in 2006, as per court documents, yet the surgeon was allowed to continue working with children. The Quimperle hospital did not provide a comment when requested. The prosecutor in Lorient, Stephane Kellenberger, spearheaded the investigation into Le Scouarnec’s alleged crimes and has initiated a separate preliminary inquiry to determine if there was any criminal negligence on the part of organizations or individuals that could have prevented the abuse. France’s Medical Association opted not to issue a statement. The local branch of the association in the Finistere administrative department, which was evidently aware of Le Scouarnec’s 2005 conviction based on court records, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. (Editing by Gabriel Stargardter and Frances Kerry)
