French Doctor on Trial for Sexual Abuse of Autistic Teens in Montpellier
- Dignity 4Patients
- Nov 18, 2025
- 2 min read
By Amina Elghoubachi- 18/11/2025- Barlaman Today- [France]- [Philippe Moulin]
French Doctor, Philippe Moulin, accused of sexually abusing 13 adolescents who have autism and disabilities, went on trial Monday in Montpellier. He faces charges of rape and sexual assault; the trial held at Hérault Criminal Court is expected to conclude on Friday.
Moulin, 54, appeared in the courtroom wearing a blue sweater, glasses, and carrying a stack of papers. Several victims sat in the front rows, AFP reported. Psychiatrist Dr. Jean-Claude Penochet described him as “in a deep denial” and said Moulin created “a bubble of legitimacy impermeable to the real world,” displaying “a perverse, pedophile mechanism.”
The first day focused on Moulin’s psychological evaluation and an expert testimony. The court will hear from the accused and his close associates, including his former partner, later in the week.
Moulin practiced in multiple medical facilities around Montpellier and also saw patients at his home. Police arrested him in October 2021 after parents of his patients reported suspicious behavior. He has consistently denied the allegations, claiming his actions were medically justified.
Investigators say Moulin conducted dozens of consultations in his home, his car, and medical settings. He allegedly measured the genitals of adolescents at rest and in erection, instructed them to masturbate in front of him, and used sex toys to stimulate them and collect semen.
Moulin graduated in 2000 and spent 15 years working in geriatric care before shifting to adolescent sexual health. He called himself a “pediatric andrologist,” a specialty that does not exist in France. He gave talks to associations supporting children with autism or disabilities, gaining parents’ trust. He also bonded with some teenagers by engaging with their interest in video games.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.
Dignity4Patients Commentary: Someone a society trusted, committed a grotesque abuse of power against vulnerable children with autism and other disabilities. This wasn’t just a crime, but a catastrophic betrayal by someone who was supposed to heal, protect, and do no harm. When trust is desecrated like this and vulnerable patients taken advantage of it calls into question systems, professions, oversight, and those charged with a duty to protect that could allow this to happen.
