French Surgeon Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Abuse of Hundreds of Children

French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec has confessed to sexually assaulting 299 patients, primarily minors, during his nearly three-decade medical career. Authorities in France are set to deliver a verdict on the 74-year-old, who is already serving a 15-year sentence for previous child sexual abuse convictions. Prosecutors are seeking a maximum 20-year sentence for aggravated rape in this latest case, which has raised questions about systemic failures within the medical system that allowed Le Scouarnec to continue practicing despite previous convictions. Le Scouarnec, who has admitted to various heinous acts including abuse of patients while they were under anesthesia, claimed he split his identity into two personas: a "good surgeon" and a "pervert." His diary revealed his acknowledgment of his actions, stating that he was "very happy" to be a "paedophile." Victims’ advocates have highlighted the need for accountability in a system that ignored warnings about Le Scouarnec's behavior, including a 2005 conviction for possessing child pornography. The case underscores a significant failure to protect vulnerable patients, as many victims, including 256 minors under 15, have come forward with their stories years after the abuses occurred.

In a horrifying case unfolding in France, Philippe Schneider, 69, and his partner Nathalie Caboubassy, 45, are on trial for the murder of Georges Meichler, whose dismembered remains were allegedly cooked and discarded. According to reports, Meichler, 57, had been missing from his isolated home in southern France, prompting a police investigation after his daughter received a suspicious text suggesting he was traveling. The investigation led police to a van driven by Schneider and Caboubassy, where they discovered blood and bags with human remains. Schneider confessed to killing Meichler during a robbery gone wrong, stating the victim suffocated after being tied and gagged. He claimed he dismembered the body and cooked parts in an attempt to mask the smell, influenced by a Nepalese religious ritual. In a turn of events, a 25-year-old gravedigger has testified against Schneider for complicity in the crime, describing how Schneider instructed him to prepare the remains. Defense attorney Luc Abratkiewicz stated Schneider accepts full responsibility, attributing his actions to substance abuse. A verdict is expected on May 22.

Philippe Schneider, 69, and his partner Nathalie Caboubassy, 45, are currently on trial in France for the alleged murder of 57-year-old Georges Meichler in May 2025. According to police reports, Meichler had been living alone in a remote village when he was last seen. Concern arose after family members received a suspicious text suggesting he had gone to Brittany. A missing persons investigation led authorities to discover Meichler’s van, driven by Schneider and Caboubassy, containing blood and human remains. During questioning, Schneider confessed that the crime occurred during a robbery, resulting in Meichler's suffocation while he was bound and gagged. He admitted to dismembering the body, burning certain parts, and even cooking some remains with vegetables, purportedly as part of a ritual. A gravedigger, implicated in the case, testified on Schneider's instructions to mask the crime. Schneider’s defense attributes his actions to substance abuse and a misguided plan to steal a small amount of money. The trial is ongoing, with a verdict expected on May 22.