A 49-year-old vascular surgeon Neil Hooper was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after deliberately causing the amputation of his own legs using dry ice to satisfy a sexual obsession. He subsequently filed fraudulent insurance claims, claiming the amputation was due to sepsis, and collected a total of £466,653.81.
Hooper pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images linked to the EunuchMaker website. The case is connected to Marius Gustavson, who was sentenced to life for running an extreme body modification ring, including castrations and amputations on minors.
Hooper worked at Royal Cornwall hospitals from 2013 until March 2023, when he was suspended following his arrest. In December 2023, he was temporarily struck off the medical register, while his wife has filed for divorce. The NHS Trust emphasized that the charges were unrelated to his professional practice and there is no evidence suggesting any risk to patients.
After the amputation, Hooper used the money he collected from insurance companies for luxury purchases, including a motorhome, hot tub, wood-burning stove, and home renovations. The court also noted that the surgeon enjoyed the attention generated by the publicity surrounding his act, having spoken about the amputation in BBC interviews and an S4C documentary.
The General Medical Council imposed restrictions on Hooper’s practice from April 2023, and he remains suspended since December. Meanwhile, his former patients, including those who underwent amputations, are expressing concerns about the legitimacy and necessity of the treatments he provided them.
