A notepad under his eyes, Lionel Guedj addresses the Court of Appeal and his former patients. This Thursday marks the seventh day of the trial of this former dentist from the northern districts of Marseille, accused of dental mutilation. Lionel Guedj’s tone, calm, almost mechanically controlled, contrasts with the aggressiveness and outbursts of the previous days. “I have committed shortcomings and I can only apologize to them, advances the former practitioner. The evidence is there. I heard it at first instance. I knew very well what to expect in the second instance. To see all this again, I can only see the suffering and pain of the civil parties. »
“I know my delicate position, he adds in a monotone and recitative voice. I have to defend myself and, on the other hand, there are people who are suffering. “And to insist a few seconds later:” for me, the essential is there. There are patients who have pain, who suffer, who have problems. And of course there were mistakes on my part. I am really sorry. »
“He took away my smile”
This suffering to which Lionel Guedj refers has just jumped out in the eyes of the court. The dentist’s first five victims took the stand to tell, one by one, their stories of strange similarities. Those of patients from the northern districts, victims of dental mutilation, like hundreds of others in this case. Marie, dressed in an elegant green dress, reads with emotion a letter addressed to the court. A letter in which she recounts her “ordeal”.
“Certainly, when you see me, you can’t imagine what I’m going through and what I’ve been through,” confides the thirty-year-old on the verge of tears. I feel so diminished, so devalued that I have dark thoughts. “Coming to consult Dr. Guedj for a simple cavity, she comes out of the office with 17 devitalized teeth. “They call me false smile, he took away my smile, explains Marie, for whom this story got the better of her couple. My companion left me, not easy for a man to support a woman who is depressed, is uncomfortable, has odors. In a cathedral-like silence, Marie concludes: “Thanks to this trial, I understood that the only wealth, the only heritage that a poor person has are his teeth, and that was stolen from me and from us. »
“I have never tied someone to the chair”
His notebook in hand, Lionel Guedj wants to be compassionate after these difficult stories. He who, a few days ago, set out to demonstrate the errors of the experts, patient after patient, workbook in support, says he has changed his mind. “Out of respect for the civil parties. I don’t want to go into every detail. “I don’t want to say that they are liars, they are wrong,” adds Lionel Guedj. Yet this is what the dentist assured, Tuesday, before the court. “The real subject is pain, continues Lionel Guedj. This is the real problem of the civil parties. »
But why then have you acted in this way? What are these shortcomings that Lionel Guedj recognizes? Questions are put to the former dentist many times by the court. “I made therapeutic choices that I thought at the time were judicious for the patient”, replies Lionel Guedj, before immediately insisting: “I do not question the existence of suffering in front of you. “Do you recognize any diagnostic errors?” “, then asks an assessor. “Yes, in terms of the treatment plan,” replies Lionel Guedj. His lawyer looks at him, shaking his head. What about devitalizations? The assessor continues his questions. “They were justified at the time,” says Guedj again, without giving further details.
“If you are respectful, give explanations to the civil parties”, will then insist the president, annoyed by the lack of details of the dentist. And, suddenly, the latter will let go, finding the offensive tone which is his: “I recognize shortcomings, problems for which I fully assume responsibility. I do not hide my face. Afterwards, I’ve never strapped anyone to the chair! I never forced anyone! And to resume: “I think it is a matter of respect to clearly recognize the problems on the patients, that I am responsible for these problems. I do not at all want to increase the animosity between the patients and me concerning the difficulties encountered. »
Lionel Guedj was sentenced at first instance to eight years in prison. He faces up to ten years in prison.