When Marie opened her door to two gendarmes in 2019, she never anticipated being drawn into one of the most significant child abuse scandals in history. The 38-year-old mother of three was taken aback when the officers revealed that she had fallen victim to Joël Le Scouarnec, a surgeon and accused serial paedophile alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted countless children.

“I remember asking them, ‘Was I touched?’” Marie recounted. “’No, madame. Raped,’ they replied.” The horrific reality left her in disbelief. “It felt unreal, like cancer—you think it only happens to others. How could I have forgotten something so terrible?”

Struggling with gaps in her memory, the police unveiled handwritten notes from Le Scouarnec’s “black books” dating back to 1996, when he operated on her appendix at the age of 10. The documents included her full name, age, and personal details, along with shocking descriptions of her experiences. “Seeing my name alongside such vile phrases was beyond disgusting,” she said.

Le Scouarnec, now 74, is set to face court on charges relating to the rape or sexual abuse of 299 patients—158 boys and 141 girls—most of whom were under 15, while they were under anaesthesia or recovering from surgery between 1989 and 2014. On average, his victims were only 11 years old.

Despite his heinous actions, Le Scouarnec denies any penetration, highlighting the complexities of French law, which defines rape as any form of sexual penetration using any body part or object.

As the trial unfolds over four months, local health authorities will need to answer challenging questions regarding how Le Scouarnec maintained his medical practice for nearly a decade, even after being convicted for accessing online child abuse images. Mauricette Vinet, whose grandson Mathis was among those treated by Le Scouarnec, lamented, “There was a code of silence. People were aware but didn’t speak out. Had there been no silence, he would have been barred from treating children back in 2004, and many lives could have been spared.”

In June 2007, Mathis was hospitalized for appendicitis at the age of 10, and in 2019, he learned from police about the notes linked to his treatment. Tragically, two years later, he succumbed to an overdose, and his family believes the alleged abuse lay at the core of his struggles with addiction. Mauricette said, “When the police informed him, it shattered his world. We tried supporting him, but he wouldn’t discuss it. It broke him.”

This trial arrives at a time when France is grappling with the aftermath of high-profile cases, such as the Mazan hearing, where 51 men were convicted for the rape and sexual assault of Gisèle Pelicot.

Francesca Satta, the attorney for Marie, the Vinet family, and other victims, has condemned Le Scouarnec as “monstrous” and accused him of using his medical career as a “hunting ground.” She suspects there may be up to 400 victims, with at least 12 cases dropped due to the statute of limitations.

Satta emphasized the investigation as a “Pandora’s box” for those treated by Le Scouarnec, many of whom now in their 30s and 40s, are just now confronting the trauma of their past. “The police reached out to them, causing immense distress. Many were children—five to 10 years old—anaesthetized at the time, unaware of the abuse. They trusted him as a doctor,” Satta remarked.

While many survivors may not remember their experiences, the prosecutor’s case will rely heavily on Le Scouarnec’s detailed notes. Public prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger noted, “The victims were sedated and unable to perceive or report what occurred. Le Scouarnec cleverly concealed his actions.”

Amélie Lévêque, now 43, only learned of her connection to Le Scouarnec after reading about him in the news in 2019. Upon checking her medical records, she discovered he had performed her appendix surgery in 1991. Therapy sessions alone brought her buried memories rushing back: “In a few seconds, I was transported back to being nine years old in the recovery room. Everything returned: the feelings, the smells, the sensations—it all came flooding back,” she shared.

Le Scouarnec, who qualified as a surgeon in 1983 and went on to work in hospitals across western France, was previously convicted in 2005 for accessing child sexual abuse images. Incredibly, despite this conviction, he continued to practice medicine for years due to staffing shortages in the region.

Efforts to report Le Scouarnec were made over the years. In 2006, a colleague raised concerns, and while authorities were notified, no action was taken. Even when he disclosed his conviction while seeking a new job in 2008, he faced no repercussions and continued his medical career.

Frédéric Benoist, a lawyer representing child protection groups, pointed out the systemic failures within both the judicial and healthcare systems that allowed Le Scouarnec to remain active. He criticized the authorities for failing to prioritize the seriousness of his offenses, emphasizing that rigorous action could have prevented further abuse.

The recent revelations surrounding Le Scouarnec’s alleged crimes lead to questions about why those aware—family members and colleagues—failed to take action or were disregarded when voicing concerns.

The scale of the allegations was highlighted in April 2017 when a neighbor’s six-year-old daughter accused him of indecent exposure, prompting an investigation that uncovered over 300,000 child sexual abuse images and detailed notebooks chronicling his misconduct.

In December 2020, he received a 15-year sentence for the sexual abuse of four girls, including his young neighbor. As the court case looms this week concerning the additional 299 charges, his lawyer stated that Le Scouarnec is prepared to face justice and speak to his victims.

Investigative journalist Hugo Lemonier’s book, “Piégés” (Trapped), delves into Le Scouarnec’s methods, exploring the chilling realities of his practices. Lemonier noted that the surgeon’s profession placed him in a position of untouchability, allowing him to evade suspicion for far too long.

As this case unfolds, the issue of child safety in medical settings prompts urgent discussions and reflections on the protections in place for vulnerable patients.

If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, support is available through organizations such as the NSPCC and Napac.

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