His supporters call to gather in front of the scene, as a "support" to Professor Didier Raoult.
The microbiologist, director of the IHU Méditerranée Infection in Marseille and champion of hydroxychloroquine since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, is summoned this Friday before the disciplinary chamber of the regional council of the Order of Physicians of Nouvelle-Aquitaine , in Bordeaux.
He must answer for several alleged breaches of the code of ethics, of which he has been accused for more than a year but of which he has always defended himself.
And they are not directly related to the latest revelations about possible irregularities during clinical trials at the IHU.
We take stock.
Why is Didier Raoult summoned?
It all dates back to July 2020, between the first two waves of the epidemic in France.
The French-speaking infectious pathology company (Spilf) files a complaint with the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental council of the Order of Physicians, against the media professor of Marseille.
Several individuals made similar reports during the following weeks.
Didier Raoult is accused of violations of at least nine articles of the code of medical ethics (which has more than 100).
They relate in particular to information to the public (the doctor had in particular questioned the effectiveness of wearing a mask or confinement), on the promotion of hydroxychloroquine (for which no study has yet truly demonstrated the effectiveness against the Covid-19), or on the non-confraternity vis-à-vis other doctors.
"What prompted us to mobilize is that in June, when several studies showed that hydroxychloroquine did not work, Didier Raoult continued to promote it and want to impose it", explained in November 2020 the president of Spilf, Pierre Tattevin.
Read alsoVaccination, hydroxychloroquine ... These strange studies shared by Didier Raoult
The Bouches-du-Rhône departmental council of the Order of Physicians had found the complaint admissible and had seized the regional disciplinary chamber of first instance (CDPI), as provided for in the procedure.
In
December 2020, the National Order of Physicians joined in this process.
Shortly after, Didier Raoult had filed a complaint in turn against the president of the body, Patrick Bouet, for "harassment".
Will he be physically present?
The complaint against Didier Raoult having been initially filed in the Bouches-du-Rhône, it is the CDPI of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur which should have taken up the case.
But as this is a potentially sensitive matter, a decision was taken to relocate it to New Aquitaine.
The hearing, chaired by an administrative judge, will therefore take place in Bordeaux.
Whether or not the respondent is present?
Quoted by AFP at the end of October, one of Didier Raoult's lawyers, Brice Gazzini, had indicated that the microbiologist would not be there.
But he assures the Parisian this Thursday that there was a misunderstanding and that he did not mean that.
"I represent Didier Raoult for all the different criminal proceedings, except precisely for this case," he says.
His colleague Fabrice Di Vizio, who is in charge, assured that the microbiologist would be physically present this Friday.
What the entourage of the latter, contacted by Le Parisien, was not able to confirm.
“He will be there and will explain himself to his peers.
He has nothing to hide and he is eager to answer questions, ”said Me Di Vizio.
I read in @ 20Minutes that @raoult_didier will not be present at the disciplinary hearing on Friday in Bordeaux!
We'll have to stop talking nonsense!
He will be there and will explain himself to his peers.
He has nothing to hide and is eager to answer questions.
- Fabrice Di Vizio (@ DIVIZIO1) October 31, 2021
What is he risking?
The scale of possible sanctions is wide, ranging from a simple warning to removal from the Roll of the Order, including reprimand and up to three years (with or without suspension) of prohibition from practicing medicine.
Didier Raoult will in any case have the possibility to appeal the decision, "within 30 days" after being informed.
Contacted, the New Aquitaine CDPI of the Order of Physicians refuses to comment, simply indicating that the precise deadline will be communicated at the end of the hearing on Friday.
"The whole file is so heavy that the lawyers will try to put forward procedural aspects", anticipates for its part a source close to the file, who expects "a rather heavy sanction (for example a few months of suspension), but not cancellation ”.
As Didier Raoult has been retired since August 31 as a university professor-hospital practitioner, a possible suspension would especially have a very strong symbolic weight.
He should also step down as director of the IHU by September 30 at the latest.
Is there a link with the latest revelations on clinical trials?
No, not directly.
As a reminder, L'Express and then Mediapart have revealed in recent weeks several irregularities allegedly committed during clinical trials conducted in recent years at the IHU, sometimes without the authorization of the health authorities.
The prosecution was seized by the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), even if Didier Raoult denies.
These revelations are not, a priori, part of the elements contained in the file examined this Friday.
But it is possible that this context influences the jury, one way or the other.