Didier Raoult

Following professional complaints concerning, among other matters, the promotion of hydroxychloroquine and his public communications, Raoult received a reprimand in December 2021. In October 2024, the national disciplinary chamber increased the sanction to a two-year ban on practising medicine from 1 February 2025. In October 2025, the Conseil d'État refused to admit his appeal, making this challenge unsuccessful.

Attribution

Directly implicated

In January 2024, journals retracted six papers by Raoult and colleagues over issues involving ethical approval of patient research. Reassessment of the IHU's scientific output continued. In January 2025, Le Monde also reported that Raoult was under criminal investigation concerning an unauthorised clinical study.

The team at the IHU headed by Didier Raoult published a small non-randomised study in March 2020, quickly concluding that hydroxychloroquine, particularly in combination with azithromycin, was beneficial; Raoult heavily publicised the finding. The work became one of the pandemic's most contested papers because of its methodology, patient exclusions and ethical concerns. In December 2024, the publisher formally retracted it.

Attribution

Directly implicated

A paper from the Marseille team covering more than 30,000 Covid patients and hydroxychloroquine use prompted protests from learned societies and researchers, who described it as a clinical trial conducted outside the required regulatory framework. The authors subsequently announced its withdrawal while authorities examined how the data and treatments had been generated.

State of the evidence

Documented

On reaching university hospital retirement age, Raoult asked to continue clinical work through a post-retirement employment arrangement. The Marseille hospitals refused, and the administrative court dismissed his application to overturn that decision in November 2021. Under pressure from the founding members, the IHU board simultaneously launched an international succession process; Pierre-Edouard Fournier succeeded him on 1 September 2022.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following revelations about tuberculosis treatments and other research conducted at the IHU, the ANSM inspected the institution and reported serious ethical and regulatory breaches. It cited, among other things, research involving human participants that should have received prior favourable ethics opinions and irregularities in internal documents, before referring matters to prosecutors.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The joint IGAS–IGESR report described inappropriate medical and scientific practices, patient risks, management and governance abuses and deteriorating finances at the IHU during Raoult's leadership. The Health and Research Ministers referred the matter to prosecutors; a judicial investigation was opened.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Raoult sued infectious disease specialist Karine Lacombe after she criticised his scientific practices and referred to possible falsification. The Marseille Criminal Court considered certain remarks defamatory but acquitted Lacombe, accepting her good-faith defence, so Raoult's complaint failed at first instance.

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

Person targeted by the proceedings

Karine Lacombe

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted