Scandal about doctors: 299 abuse cases shake France!

Scandal about doctors: 299 abuse cases shake France!

Frankreich - The case of the retired doctor Joël Le Scouarnec shakes France to the mark. On May 23, 2025, it was announced that Le Scouarneec stood that between 1989 and 2014 abused a total of 158 patients and 141 patients. The average age of the children concerned was only eleven years. The prosecutor accuses the accused of often having passed to patients who were still under anesthesia who could not classify his actions as abuse. These shocking revelations raise a variety of questions, especially with regard to the role of the health authorities.

The investigators and the prosecutor find that Le Scouarneec has used personnel understaffing in rural hospitals. He is accused of having worked with his behavior in a particularly vulnerable environment. The upcoming judgment on Wednesday is eagerly awaited, and it is already forecast that an additional criminal proceedings may follow due to further victims. It is assumed that the number of victims could even be higher.

social and political reactions

The case has triggered massive discussions not only among the victims and their relatives, but also in the general public. Questions about the responsibility of the health authorities, especially why the doctor, who was sentenced to probation for child pornography in 2005, has not been stopped long ago. This raises fundamental questions about the protection of children in the health sector, which is demonstrably not sufficient.

In many cases of child abuse, as the case of Le Scouarnec shows, these are not isolated incidents. According to a report by World Health Organization , child abuse includes physical, sexual or psychological abuse and neglect of children under the age of 18. These forms of abuse are common worldwide and often linked to other social problems such as drug abuse of caregivers or domestic violence.

Support for those affected

affected people should not feel alone. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers comprehensive support, especially for families of exploited children. Crisis interventions and local advisory services are provided. A special program called Team Hope combines families who have experienced similar crises to offer mutual support. For people who have been confronted online with explicit pictures, trustworthy adults such as parents or school consultants are essential contacts.

The shocking details about Le Scouarneec and the social discussions about the protection of children show that there is a further need for preventive measures. In the European region, voices for rethinking and increased priority in the prevention of child abuse have become louder - a fact that needs to be addressed urgently.