Biggest child abuse trial in French history reveals decades of failures in medical oversight

A former French surgeon has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the sexual abuse of hundreds of patients, mostly aged under 15, following the biggest child abuse trial in French history.

Joël Le Scouarnec, 74, worked as a digestive surgeon in public and private hospitals across Brittany and the west of France, often operating on children with appendicitis.