BRUSSELS — A major investigative breakthrough has uncovered a deeply unsettling security lapse within the European healthcare system, revealing that several French doctors—convicted of sexual assault and professional misconduct—have been allowed to continue practicing in Belgium. The joint investigation by Le Monde, France 2, De Tijd, and the OCCRP details a systemic failure to monitor cross-border medical practitioners, potentially placing thousands of patients at risk.
At the center of the scandal is a 65-year-old French cardiologist who was convicted in April 2024 of sexual aggression against his patients. Despite being stripped of his license in France, the cardiologist successfully obtained a new medical qualification in Belgium just two months later, in February 2024. By the time French authorities issued a formal European-wide alert via the Internal Market Information (IMI) system in February 2025, he was already treating patients at major facilities like Iris Hospitals South in Brussels.
Hospital administrators claimed they had no “legal basis” to suspect the doctor’s background, citing a lack of automated red flags when his Belgian license was processed. However, the investigation suggests this is far from an isolated incident. Journalists identified at least four other French practitioners who migrated to Belgium after facing severe sanctions in their home country. These include a General Practitioner banned for life in France for “inappropriate conduct” and a gynecologist suspended following the death of a newborn.
The revelations have sparked national outrage, highlighting the toothless nature of current EU medical oversight. While the European Commission maintains the IMI registry to track disciplined professionals, its effectiveness relies entirely on member states actively checking it. Data reveals a staggering negligence: between 2021 and 2025, France reportedly failed to consult any of the 2,000 notifications issued by other nations, while Belgium consulted fewer than 2%.
This “blind spot” in the borderless European medical market has allowed practitioners with histories of predatory behavior to simply “reset” their careers by moving a few dozen kilometers. Patient advocacy groups are now calling for mandatory, real-time background synchronization between the Belgian Order of Doctors and the French National Order of Physicians.
In response to the mounting pressure, the Belgian Order of Doctors announced on May 7, 2026, that “immediate action” was being taken against the specific individuals identified in the report. Furthermore, Belgian authorities have pledged to reform their vetting process, ensuring that IMI alerts are consulted before any medical visa is issued to a foreign practitioner.
As the investigation continues, it serves as a grim reminder of the case of Joël Le Scouarnec—France’s most prolific medical predator—who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in May 2025 for abusing nearly 300 patients. While Scouarnec’s crimes occurred within France, experts warn that without strict cross-border transparency, the next “untouchable” predator could easily find refuge in a neighboring country’s clinic.
