France, May 28 -- A French court has sentenced Joel Le Scouarnec, the former surgeon who admitted sexually abusing hundreds of patients, mostly children, to the maximum 20 years in jail. The trial has raised questions about institutional failures in both France's health and judicial system.

A court in Vannes, Brittany, found Le Scouarnec guilty of 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults, committed between 1989 and 2014.

He was sentenced to 20 years in jail - the maximum penalty for rape.

The abuse is considered France's worst case of pedocriminality to go to trial.Many of his victims were under anaesthesia or waking up from surgery. Of the 299 victims, 256 were under the age of 15.

Wednesday's verdict concludes a three-month trial that has ...