Neil Hopper, 49, a vascular surgeon, faces accusations in court of amputating both of his legs to claim 460,000 pounds (approximately 5.4 crores in Indian rupees) in insurance settlements in England's Cornwall. However, the surgeon has claimed that he had to amputate his legs due to a life-threatening condition called sepsis.
According to reports, Neil was expected to receive 235,622 pounds from insurer Arriva Group and 231,031 pounds from the Old Mutual company.
In a disturbing development, authorities allege that he purchased footage from a site known as The Eunuch Maker, which depicted amputation procedures, and that he motivated Marius Gustavson, the suspected mastermind of an extreme body modification network, to perform dismemberment on others.
Additional charges have been filed against him for allegedly encouraging or aiding in causing serious bodily harm. According to court proceedings, this purported encouragement occurred from August 21, 2018, through December 4, 2020.
Hopper had worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since 2013 but was removed from his position in March 2023 following his arrest. A trust representative clarified that "the allegations are unconnected to Mr Hopper's work performance and no evidence suggests patients were ever at risk." His medical license has been suspended since December 2023.
During a BBC interview, Hopper mentioned that given his extensive experience with amputations, he couldn't stop thinking about power tools during his own procedure. "The idea of power tools being used on my body felt disturbing and strange," he stated.
He further noted his rapid recovery, explaining that while doctors predicted he would walk within three months, he accomplished this within three hours.
According to reports, Neil appeared in court on Thursday and is remanded until August 26.
