Former surgeon sentenced to 20 years in prison as France's largest child sexual abuse trial ends
NBCMAY 2025
France: Surgeon Gets 20 Years for Abusing 299 Children
Above: This court sketch created on Feb. 26, 2025, shows Joel Le Scouarnec testifying as his brother Patrick (top) attends his trial on charges of assaulting or raping 299 patients, at the Criminal Court in Vannes. Image credit: Benoit Peyrucq/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The medical system catastrophically failed to protect vulnerable patients from a known predator. Despite his 2005 conviction for child pornography, authorities allowed Le Scouarnec to continue practicing medicine without supervision or restrictions, effectively giving him unrestricted access to potential victims for over a decade.
Narrative B
Le Scouarnec has fully confessed to his crimes, cooperating with authorities. His detailed documentation of the abuse, while horrific, helped identify victims who might otherwise never have known about their assault, allowing them to seek justice and healing in the course of this process.
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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0