Patients Fear Unnecessary Surgery After NHS Surgeon Who Froze Off Own Legs is Jailed for Fraud
Truro, UK – Former patients of a disgraced NHS surgeon, including some who underwent amputations, are expressing grave fears that they may have received unnecessary life-changing operations after the surgeon was jailed for deliberately freezing his own legs to have them amputated.
Neil Hopper, 49, a vascular surgeon who worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), was sentenced to 32 months in prison at Truro Crown Court on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to five charges, including two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.
The court heard that Hopper, from Truro, used dry ice to freeze his legs to such an extent that they were no longer viable, leading to their amputation in 2019. It was revealed this had been a long-held ambition linked to a sexual interest. The disgraced surgeon then defrauded insurance companies Aviva Group and Old Mutual out of nearly five hundred thousand pounds by falsely claiming the injuries were not self-inflicted.
While RCHT has stated that the criminal charges do not relate to Hopper's, "professional conduct", and that, "there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients", his former patients are now questioning the treatment they received under his care.
South West-based medical negligence firm Enable Law confirmed it has been contacted by several of Hopper’s former patients who are deeply concerned in light of the shocking revelations.
Mike Bird, a partner at the firm, said the case had caused, "shock and grave concern", among those who were treated by Hopper.
"Some have had life-changing surgery and are now worried it was not really needed", Mr Bird said. "While we understand that RCHT have said that the charges do not relate to his professional conduct... this is such a serious situation that there must be a rigorous public investigation".
Hopper’s extreme pornography charges related to videos purchased from a website called the, "EunuchMaker", which depicts genital and limb mutilation. The site is linked to Marius Gustavson, a Norwegian man who orchestrated the removal of his own and others’ body parts.
In a deeply ironic twist, Hopper was named one of Britain's bravest people in 2020, receiving the, "Against All Odds", title at the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons for his supposed resilience following his self-inflicted amputations.
Enable Law, which is working with the charity Limbless Association, is now calling for full transparency from the hospital trust.
"The patients we are advising want answers and above all, want to know that the Trust is doing all it can to investigate and support them", Mr Bird added. "We are also strongly recommending that the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust immediately puts in place psychological and medical support".
Hopper worked for the RCHT from 2013 until his suspension in March 2023 following his arrest. He was suspended from the medical register in December 2023.
A spokesperson for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust reiterated that the charges were not related to his professional conduct but encouraged former patients with concerns to contact their patient experience team. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the Trust had cooperated fully with their investigation.
Neil Hopper, 49, a vascular surgeon who worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), was sentenced to 32 months in prison at Truro Crown Court on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to five charges, including two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.
The court heard that Hopper, from Truro, used dry ice to freeze his legs to such an extent that they were no longer viable, leading to their amputation in 2019. It was revealed this had been a long-held ambition linked to a sexual interest. The disgraced surgeon then defrauded insurance companies Aviva Group and Old Mutual out of nearly five hundred thousand pounds by falsely claiming the injuries were not self-inflicted.
While RCHT has stated that the criminal charges do not relate to Hopper's, "professional conduct", and that, "there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients", his former patients are now questioning the treatment they received under his care.
South West-based medical negligence firm Enable Law confirmed it has been contacted by several of Hopper’s former patients who are deeply concerned in light of the shocking revelations.
Mike Bird, a partner at the firm, said the case had caused, "shock and grave concern", among those who were treated by Hopper.
"Some have had life-changing surgery and are now worried it was not really needed", Mr Bird said. "While we understand that RCHT have said that the charges do not relate to his professional conduct... this is such a serious situation that there must be a rigorous public investigation".
Hopper’s extreme pornography charges related to videos purchased from a website called the, "EunuchMaker", which depicts genital and limb mutilation. The site is linked to Marius Gustavson, a Norwegian man who orchestrated the removal of his own and others’ body parts.
In a deeply ironic twist, Hopper was named one of Britain's bravest people in 2020, receiving the, "Against All Odds", title at the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons for his supposed resilience following his self-inflicted amputations.
Enable Law, which is working with the charity Limbless Association, is now calling for full transparency from the hospital trust.
"The patients we are advising want answers and above all, want to know that the Trust is doing all it can to investigate and support them", Mr Bird added. "We are also strongly recommending that the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust immediately puts in place psychological and medical support".
Hopper worked for the RCHT from 2013 until his suspension in March 2023 following his arrest. He was suspended from the medical register in December 2023.
A spokesperson for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust reiterated that the charges were not related to his professional conduct but encouraged former patients with concerns to contact their patient experience team. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the Trust had cooperated fully with their investigation.
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