Trial begins for ex-surgeon in France accused of abusing 299 young patients.

France is on the cusp of a monumental reckoning in the fight against child sexual abuse, as it prepares for its largest-ever trial centered around the allegations against Joël Le Scouarnec, a 74-year-old former surgeon. This landmark case, which begins in the northwestern city of Vannes on Monday, has drawn national attention by putting the spotlight on the silent suffering of numerous victims—299 to be precise—who are now coming forward to confront their alleged abuser.

The trial, expected to take four months, addresses heinous actions spanning decades, with charges against Le Scouarnec including rape and sexual assault. Notably, many of the victims were children under his care, often unconscious and vulnerable due to necessary medical procedures. This unsettling backdrop serves as a stark reminder of the abuse of power that can occur within trusted institutions.

Key to the prosecution’s case are Le Scouarnec’s chilling notebooks, where he meticulously documented his predatory behavior. According to investigation reports, he classified himself as a pedophile and chronicled a shocking array of assaults. The first legal action against him was ignited in 2017 when a neighbor’s six-year-old daughter accused him of inappropriate touching. This revelation marked the beginning of an investigation that would unveil not only historical abuse but also the grim extent of his crimes, including over 300,000 photos and a trove of disturbing video content related to child exploitation found in his possession during a police raid.

The timeline is harrowing: from 1989 to 2014, he is alleged to have sexually assaulted children aged around 11 on average. Survivors like Amélie Lévêque, recalling her experience in 1991 as a nine-year-old patient, expressed the disorientation that came with discovering her name in Le Scouarnec’s notes. “I felt like I had lost control of everything,” she recounted emotionally, illustrating the profound impact these revelations have had on her life.

Child protection groups are calling this trial a chance to shatter the societal taboos that have allowed such abuse to persist unchallenged. Activists, like those from L’Enfant Bleu, are advocating for a cultural shift, emphasizing that silence in the face of abuse must be actively countered. “Child abuse careers are built, not by monsters, but by all witnesses’ successive silences,” warned representatives from the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children.

Despite having a prior conviction for possessing and importing child pornography in 2005—resulting in a mere four months of suspended prison time—Le Scouarnec was allowed to continue his medical career, illustrating the failures in systemic oversight that allowed him to operate undetected for so long. Even after his conviction, health authorities failed to take decisive action, raising severe questions about institutional accountability.

On the legal front, Le Scouarnec faces the potential for a 20-year sentence if convicted on the latest charges. His lawyer has indicated that he intends to answer all questions posed during the trial, albeit while stating that not all details of the allegations are clear in his memory.

As the trial unfolds, many are hopeful that it will empower other victims to come forth, challenge their abusers, and spur necessary changes in both legal frameworks and societal attitudes toward child abuse. For those involved, like Amélie, facing the truth is both a painful awakening and a necessary step toward healing. As she put it, “That was the beginning of the answers to a lifetime of questions.”

The trial not only seeks justice for victims but also serves as a wake-up call for society at large. The hope is that it will ignite a broader dialogue on how to better protect children and hold predators accountable, ensuring that no survivor has to suffer in silence again.