自断双腿骗保百万，知名医生被控欺诈

Core Viewpoint - A British vascular surgeon, Neil Hopper, is facing legal charges for allegedly making false statements to insurance companies regarding the cause of his leg amputations, seeking over £466,000 (approximately 4.46 million RMB) in compensation [2][17]. Group 1: Background Information - Neil Hopper, aged 49, worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust since 2013, specializing in vascular surgery and performing numerous amputations [5][6]. - He gained media attention in March 2023 after suffering from sepsis, which led to the amputation of both legs [7][17]. - Following his condition, he was portrayed as an inspirational figure, even being shortlisted as a candidate for the European Space Agency's "disabled astronaut" program [3][14]. Group 2: Legal Charges and Investigation - Hopper is accused of encouraging or assisting others in causing serious bodily harm and was arrested by police in Devon and Cornwall shortly after a BBC interview [15][16]. - The investigation, which lasted two and a half years, revealed that Hopper allegedly fabricated the cause of his injuries to claim insurance money, stating they were due to sepsis rather than self-inflicted wounds [17][18]. - He is also charged with purchasing amputation videos from a body modification website and promoting severe bodily harm [20][21]. Group 3: Current Status - As of July 23, 2023, Hopper appeared in court without entering a plea, and his medical license has been suspended pending legal proceedings [4][24]. - The Royal Cornwall Hospital has stated that the allegations do not relate to his professional conduct and that there is no evidence of risk to patients [22][23].