For equality and against all forms of violence.
This Tuesday afternoon, another watchword will be added to the slogans carried by the feminist demonstration organized in Paris, on the occasion of the international day of women's rights.
“We are going to ask for the suspension of Professor Daraï for the time of the investigation and in respect of the presumption of innocence, insists Sonia Bisch, the founder and spokesperson of the collective Stop obstetrical and gynecological violence (VOG).
He continues to exercise without problem, while he is the subject of at least 21 complaints of rape
(on a minor, in meetings and aggravated violence)
.
»
“Two others will be filed in the coming days,” adds My-Kim Yang-Paya, the lawyer for 18 plaintiffs, who assures that her clients “take very badly the fact that Émile Daraï still exercises”.
On January 3, a judicial investigation was opened against him for "violence by a person in charge of a public service mission".
“Rough vaginal or rectal examinations”
Sonia Bisch and all the demonstrators will go and demand her suspension "in song" in front of the Tenon hospital.
The procession will complete its journey – started at 2 p.m. Gare du Nord – in front of this establishment in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, where this eminent professor, former head of department, continues to consult.
The affair began last September, when medical students denounced the “violent practices” of this endometriosis specialist to the Stop VOG collective.
“It created a snowball effect, recalls Sonia Bisch.
We have since collected 190 testimonials from patients against Professor Daraï.
They describe in particular brutal vaginal or rectal examinations, particularly painful examinations, sometimes carried out without their consent.
»
Read also "I was brutalized, dehumanized, treated like an object": new complaint against the gynecologist of Tenon
Many women also describe the 65-year-old practitioner's "lack of empathy".
The latter had acknowledged in a letter made public by the AP-HP that he could not "ignore the suffering" expressed by these women.
"Even if these patients are few compared to the large number of patients I see in consultation each year," he added in his letter.
"There is a lot of impunity in the medical community"
After temporary measures, the AP-HP permanently suspended him from his duties as head of department and head of education in December.
“But despite the complaints and the media coverage of the case, he still exercises, blows Sonia Bisch.
In France, we still have great difficulty in questioning the figure of the authoritative doctor.
There is also a great brotherhood in the medical community and still a lot of impunity.
»
According to her, the reputation of Émile Daraï also played in the difficult release of the word of the victims.
“It's such a big deal that a lot of patients thought they couldn't be heard.
This is someone who was recommended by patient associations.
They waited six months to have an appointment with him.
Some saw him as the messiah.
They counted on him to reduce their pain or to have a child.
»
Several dozen patients also came forward to support this professor who "changed their lives".
Contacted, the AP-HP refers to the report of the commission of inquiry, where the medical mediator mentions in particular the practices of Professor Daraï which fall “from the years 1960-1970”.
The AP-HP indicates on the other hand that it will not make a "comment in the context of the current procedure".
