French deputies propose medical reforms following Le Scouarnec affair

A parliamentary mission in France has released a report calling for systemic reforms following the Le Scouarnec affair, in which surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec was convicted of sexually assaulting 299 people between 1989 and 2014.

Deputies from across the political spectrum—including La France Insoumise, Ensemble pour la République, and the Greens—highlighted major institutional failures. They noted that despite a 2005 conviction for child pornography, Le Scouarnec was permitted to continue practicing medicine without restrictions from the Medical Council. The report identifies a chronic lack of communication between the justice system, hospitals, and medical regulatory bodies.

To prevent future occurrences, the deputies proposed approximately thirty recommendations. A primary suggestion is the implementation of a mandatory ‘honorability certificate’ (attestation d’honorabilité) for healthcare professionals, which would be required for both recruitment and continued employment. The mission emphasizes that current procedural adjustments have been insufficient to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the case.