Cornwall Surgeon Faces Court Over Allegations of Fraud and Encouraging Limb Amputations

Published: 23 July 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

A shocking legal case has emerged from Cornwall involving Neil Hopper, a 49-year-old vascular surgeon from Truro, who has been charged with fraud and allegedly encouraging grievous bodily harm related to the amputation of his own legs and those of others. The case, unfolding at Bodmin Magistrates Court, has sent ripples through the medical community and beyond due to its disturbing nature.

Neil Hopper, a former surgeon with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, is accused of falsely representing to insurers the circumstances under which he lost his legs. According to the charges brought forth after a lengthy two-and-a-half-year investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police, Hopper claimed his legs were amputated due to sepsis in 2019. However, authorities allege this claim was dishonest and intended to secure financial gain through false insurance representation.

In addition to fraud charges, Hopper faces allegations of encouraging or assisting another individual, identified as Marius Gustavson, in causing grievous bodily harm to third parties. Between August 2018 and December 2020, Hopper is said to have purchased videos from a website known as The EunuchMaker, which depict limb removals, and is accused of encouraging Gustavson to replicate these acts on others. The details of these allegations have horrified many, raising questions about the extent and motivations behind such actions.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has expressed its cooperation with law enforcement during the investigation and emphasized that the charges do not pertain to Hopper’s professional conduct or indicate any risk to patients. Hopper had been employed by the trust from 2013 until his suspension in March 2023 following his arrest.

For former patients with concerns or questions, the trust has made available their patient experience team to provide assistance, underscoring the institution’s commitment to transparency and patient safety amid the ongoing case.

Hopper previously spoke publicly about his amputations in a 2023 BBC interview, revealing his personal reflections on the experience. He described the unsettling thought of power tools being used in his own surgeries but spoke positively about his recovery, noting a swift return to mobility that surpassed expectations. Hopper’s resilience led him to be shortlisted in the European Space Agency’s search for astronauts with disabilities, a testament to his determination despite the grave circumstances.

As this unusual and troubling case progresses through the courts, it poses profound questions about medical ethics, personal conduct, and the safeguards necessary to prevent abuse within healthcare professions. The public and medical community alike await further developments with great interest and concern.