By Juliette Jabkhiro VANNES, France (Reuters) -A retired surgeon went on trial in western France on Monday accused of raping and sexually assaulting hundreds of young patients, some while they were under anesthetic,

Defendant Joël Le Scouarnec's chillingly detailed notebooks —which he used to document sexual violence that spanned decades — are central to the trial.

Former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec went on trial Monday for raping or abusing 299 victims, mostly child patients, in a case spanning over three decades.