"I was a piece of meat": a renowned gynecologist targeted by an investigation for violence

Élise Denjean 7:25 a.m., September 24, 2021, modified at 7:31 a.m., September 24, 2021

TESTIMONY

While obstetric and gynecological violence is increasingly denounced in France, testimonies have been pouring in on social networks for a few days.

They target in particular a major Parisian gynecologist, head of the endometriosis center at Tenon hospital in Paris.

An investigation was opened on September 20 by the AP-HP and the Sorbonne University medical school, franceinfo revealed on Thursday.

The practitioner is accused of physical and verbal violence by several women.

Two of them testify to Europe 1.

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Suffering from endometriosis, Lucie, 35, is used to pain and gynecological examinations, but the one performed by Professor Émile Daraï is engraved in her memory.

"Brutal," she said.

Painful, without a word or a glance, and in front of several hospital interns, while a screen only partially hid her.

"I was just a genital organ, I think, at the time. I was not a person, I was a piece of meat."

"Not well" on leaving the consultation, Lucie never set foot again with this practitioner.

This thirty-something has now found someone she can trust.

"He started to laugh"

This is not the case with Gaëlle, 33, who "clung" to the excellent reputation of the gynecologist. It was he who operated on it. After the first consultations which she describes as expeditious, the doctor would have behaved inappropriately during her post-operative consultation. "He started to laugh, telling me that I had gained a lot of weight. He gave me a digital rectal examination, telling me that we were going to play at the

of the kilos. 'How much? 7 kilos, 8 kilos, 9 kilos? ' And I confided to him that the treatment he had given me decreased my libido. Before leaving, he told me that the problem was perhaps not my libido but rather the fact that my partner did not. no longer want me because Ihad put on too much weight so it was my fault. "

Gaëlle leaves the consultation in tears, with in mind the memory of Emile Daraï telling her that she was "stupid" not to try to have a child after this operation and that it would perhaps be too late afterwards.

Since this episode, the young woman has never wanted to consult a specialist again and has never wanted to consult a man again.

She has decided to stop treating herself because of the trauma and has doubts about what the teacher may have done while she was under general anesthesia.

Professor Darai "disputes the facts"

Neither Gaëlle nor Lucie alerted the hospital or the Order of Physicians at the time, but today the former would like to join a collective complaint. An action will be organized in front of Tenon for sanctions, explains Sonia Biche, founder of the collective Stop to obstetric and gynecological violence. She received several testimonies from victims, after being alerted by medical students. Vaginal touching without consent, violence, intense pain, hurtful and humiliating words, incitement to the operation ... the experiences of several women with the practitioner are similar.

For its part, the Tenon hospital, which "takes these accusations very seriously", indicates that "to this day", he "is not aware of any complaint filed".

Professor Émile Darai "disputes the facts of which he is accused and challenges comments he considers defamatory".

In addition, he lets it be known that he "relies on the internal investigation" carried out by the AP-HP and the Sorbonne University medical school, where the gynecologist works.