Imagine trusting a doctor to care for your child, only to learn he was a predator. In France, Joël Le Scouarnec, a 74-year-old former surgeon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on May 28, 2025, for raping and assaulting 299 patients—mostly children—over 25 years. The courtroom in Vannes was heavy with emotion as victims faced the man who betrayed their trust.

Le Scouarnec targeted kids, many unconscious from anesthesia, in hospitals across western France. His diaries, found after his 2017 arrest for abusing a neighbor’s child, laid bare the scale of his crimes, listing names and chilling details. “I’m a major pervert,” he wrote, admitting his acts in court. Yet, a 2005 conviction for copyright didn’t stop him from working. How did the system fail so many?

Outside the court, victims held banners, some marked “Anonymous,” their pain raw. “He stole our childhoods,” one survivor said, tears in her eyes. Want to hear more about their fight for justice? Check out alttimes.

The 20-year sentence is a victory, but victims say it’s not enough. They’re pushing for change, hoping their voices will protect others from such betrayal.