Former French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, who is currently on trial for the sexual abuse of hundreds of patients—most of them children—has admitted he feels "responsible" for the deaths of two of his victims.

Over the past few weeks, the court in Vannes, Brittany, was shown photographs of two individuals whose families believe died by suicide after suffering childhood abuse at the hands of Le Scouarnec. One victim remains unnamed; the other is Mathias Vinet, who died in 2021 following a long battle with addiction. His grandparents told the BBC they hold Le Scouarnec accountable for his death.

Speaking in court, the 74-year-old surgeon reflected on these cases:
“I still remember those two photographs shown at the end of the hearings. They died, and I am responsible.”

The ongoing trial, one of the largest child abuse cases in French history, began in late February. In a closed-door session held in March, Le Scouarnec admitted to abusing all 299 individuals listed as victims, many of them while under anaesthesia or recovering from surgery. More than 250 were under the age of 15.

His lawyer, Maxime Tessier, confirmed that Le Scouarnec had acknowledged every person mentioned in his graphic diaries as a potential victim.

At the trial's outset, the former surgeon confessed to committing "despicable acts" and expressed an understanding of the suffering he had inflicted. He has consistently apologized in court, describing his crimes as "revolting."

The investigation identified hundreds of victims through Le Scouarnec’s meticulously detailed diaries, in which he documented his assaults. Many victims had no memory of the abuse until authorities informed them of their presence in the diaries.

During the proceedings, Le Scouarnec has faced many of his victims and their families in court. Their testimonies have been emotional and harrowing. Several described long-term impacts such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and deep psychological trauma.

“You got into my head. I became someone I no longer recognise,” one victim told him in court, as reported by Le Monde.

Another woman, who remembered her abuse, said she felt validated when police contacted her: “I’ve been waiting for your call for 30 years.” One victim, who had no memory of being assaulted, said she was nonetheless certain she had been raped. “He stole my youth. I wanted to die without knowing why,” she said.

Lawyer Romane Codou, who represents several victims, said Le Scouarnec’s confession brought some relief. “His admission has brought peace to many and closed a painful chapter.”

Part of the trial focused on the role of the medical institutions where Le Scouarnec worked. Victims’ lawyers and child protection advocates argued that systemic failures allowed him to continue practicing even after a warning from the FBI in the early 2000s about his involvement with child abuse websites.

In March, the National Order of Doctors (Cnom)—which is also pursuing legal action against Le Scouarnec—publicly acknowledged its failure. “He should have been stopped. This case has exposed serious communication lapses within our organization, and we deeply regret that.”

Despite the unprecedented scale of abuse, many victims and their advocates feel the trial has received little public or political attention in France. The Victims of Joel Le Scouarnec Collective issued a statement expressing their dismay:
“No lessons have been learned—neither within the medical community nor among political leaders.”

Le Scouarnec is already serving a 15-year sentence for the rape and sexual assault of four children, including two nieces. He now faces an additional 20-year sentence. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on 28 May.