While a new team takes the reins of the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (Ciivise), following the ouster of the children’s judge Édouard Durand who had headed it until then, a controversy erupts over the personality and practices of its vice-president. Caroline Rey-Salmon, pediatrician in the medical-judicial emergency room for minors at the Hôtel-Dieu in Paris, is the subject of a complaint for “sexual assault by a person abusing the authority conferred on them by their position”. The commission announced its withdrawal.
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It was the appointment of Caroline Rey-Salmon as vice-president of Ciivise that started it all. Louison L., a victim of incest as a child, has already had contact with the forensic doctor. Addressed to her on June 27, 2020 for a legal expertise by the Minors Protection Brigade, the 25-year-old young woman tells the editorial staff of franceinfo that his word is called into question: “After the examination, she told me that I was wrong, that I could not have suffered vaginal rape because my hymen was not torn”relates Louison L. Worse, the gynecological examination takes place in a shocking manner since the doctor reproduces the act suffered by mimicking the gestures of the attacker, once again placing the complainant in a situation of aggression.
Following this examination, the shocked young woman did not file a complaint, fully mobilized in the battle she was waging to have the incest she denounced recognized. She also explains that she never received Caroline Rey-Salmon’s expert report and is at a standstill in her legal proceedings. A petition was launched to support Louison L.
Medical acts that discredit the Civil Society
Contacted by franceinfo, Caroline Rey-Salmon disputed “ the full charges » and did not wish to comment. However, in a legal review, the doctor returns to her practice of expertise with her words: “ “That’s the whole point of doing a kind of reconstruction of the attacker’s actions with the child on the examination table and collecting their feelings to be as close as possible to the unfolding of the events.”
In a press release, Ciivise took note of the controversy and announced the withdrawal of its vice-president Caroline Rey-Salmon, citing a decision “ essential for the peace of mind of the work » and maintaining “ confidence » of victims.
The Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (Ciivise) was launched in March 2021, in the wake of the publication of Camille Kouchner’s book, The Great Family, who denounced the incest committed on his brother by the political scientist Olivier Duhamel. This body has made the protection of victims’ speech a priority.
In a column published on February 2 in the daily The world, civil society actors, elected officials, personalities and associations, were worried about the ousting of judge Edouard Durand, praising his work with victims, and expressing doubts about the new directions of the commission. The signatories warned in particular about the questioning of the chosen currency “I believe you, I protect you”, in particular by Caroline Rey-Salmon. ” HASBefore believing, we must analyze and study the child’s words “, she defends.
The key role of the expert in incest situations
For Arnaud Gallais, ex-member of Ciivise, president of the BeBrave association, interviewed by AFP, he was “ essential » that the vice-president “ indent “. “ Of course, there is the presumption of innocence, but there is a precautionary principle “. “ We can’t say ‘I believe you, I protect you’ and then say ‘I believe you, but if it’s the vice-president, that doesn’t work'”.
For Laurent Boyet, president and founder of the association fighting against child abuse Les Papillons, interviewed by RFI, this controversy relaunches the question of communication and consent during medical examinations. Concerning the acts carried out by Caroline Rey-Salmon, he believes that it will be the job of justice to see whether the regulatory framework has been exceeded. “ I can understand the medical necessity of performing certain actions since there are many actions that can cause concern. But on the other hand, we must understand the patient’s ability to understand this gesture and analyze it. And so I think that we must also introduce this notion of consent from the patient who must in an informed manner accept the medical practice that is going to be carried out. Or refuse it, and at that point, you have to be able to find alternatives “.
Laurent Boyet, president of the association fighting against child abuse Les Papillons
Read alsoIncest in France: Ciivise’s recommendations to protect children