Le Figaro Marseille
A judicial investigation was opened in October 2020 following complaints concerning the practices of a Marseille surgeon specializing in knee operations for osteoarthritis patients, Le
Figaro
learned from the Marseille prosecutor's office, confirming initial information from Marsactu .
“Following a procedure begun in January 2016, a judicial investigation was opened in October 2020 against X for misleading commercial practice, forgery, fraud, involuntary injuries and six other counts
,” indicates the prosecution.
According to our colleagues, this surgeon would have promised patients suffering from osteoarthritis to regenerate their cartilage using stem cells.
But in the columns of Marsactu, certain patients, far from having been cured, complain of having a worsened state of health after the operations carried out by this surgeon.
A police source close to the matter confirms to Le
Figaro
that
“complaints are in progress”.
This same source specifies that
“the complainants being geographically dispersed, a questionnaire was sent”
to possible victims by the gendarmes of the central office for combating attacks on the environment and public health, in order to collect their testimonies and to know their desire to possibly file a complaint against the surgeon.
Also read Osteoarthritis: the hope of stem cells, the need for prevention
Procedures before the council of the order of doctors
“My client remains presumed innocent today because no indictment has been brought against him,”
recalls the doctor's lawyer, Me Cyril Lubrano-Lavadera.
None of the counts of offense envisaged have been established at this time.”
The judicial information also looks into research carried out by the doctor, which was allegedly carried out illegally on a minor, without proper consent or without prior subscription of insurance guaranteeing the civil liability of the promoter.
The investigators also question the possibility that this research was carried out
“without obtaining the opinion of the committee for the protection of people and the authorization of the national drug safety agency.”
The offenses targeted by the judicial investigation finally concern suspicions of illegal practice of the profession of pharmacist.
According to our colleagues, the surgeon was also the subject of proceedings before the council of the Bouches-du-Rhône order of doctors.
Contacted by
Le Figaro,
its president was not able to respond to our requests.