Surgeon 'uploaded patient's exposed brain to dating website'

Dr Sayed Talibi, 38, allegedly also downloaded information on how to make an 'ignition device' from scrap foil and had images of himself posing with an arsenal of weapons

A brain surgeon has been accused of uploading images of a patient's exposed brain to a dating website as well as downloading videos of beheadings, pictures of torture devices and 'sensitive material' linked to 9/11 terrorists at a tribunal.

Dr Sayed Talibi, 38, allegedly also downloaded information on how to make an 'ignition device' from scrap foil and had images of himself posing with an arsenal of weapons including a Russian rocket launcher. The doctor, who spent two years in the army cadets and has worked for the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, appeared before a medical tribunal misconduct hearing on Tuesday.

He’s accused of risking bringing the profession into disrepute and faces a string of charges which include him allegedly attacking and raping a woman and uploading images of himself performing surgery on a patient's exposed brain onto a dating website. It’s alleged he accumulated a range of images, videos and documents on his electronic devices between 2007 and 2018.

Some photos show him posing with a large quantity of knives and an axe, which he admits. But others, including selfies, allegedly show him holding or pointing various firearms including rifles, semi-automatic guns and handguns while dressed in military clothing.

One image allegedly shows him holding a rifle and a Russian rocket launcher and while in another he is said to be holding a knife to the throat of a woman. Dr Talibi is also said to have sent a Snapchat message, which included an image of three knives, a meat cleaver and a small sword, which read: “Who wants to play?”

When questioned by Simon Jackson KC, for the GMC, Dr Talibi admitted that on reflection he’d been “foolish” to pose for the photos but he’d thought “it was cool” at the time. The tribunal was also told that Dr Talibi possessed “a quantity of sensitive material” connected to the terrorists in the 9/11 attacks, including immigration, customs and ID documents.

It was alleged he also downloaded articles about making an ignition device from scrap and graphic images of the Taliban killing civilians and Pakistani soldiers by beheading them. He also admits possessing an image of a waterboarding device and making racist and discriminatory comments, saying he “hated” non-Muslims, Afghans and Afghan culture.

“What I said was out of frustration and in the heat of the moment, and I am ashamed of what I said and regret what I said,” he said. But he denied allegations that he raped the same woman three times in 2017, when he was later arrested and questioned by police.

Giving evidence, he said their intimate relations were “always consensual”. The doctor, who lives in Tamworth, Staffs, also faces two other unrelated charges over shoplifting and fraud allegations.

He admits attempting to defraud EDF Energy out of £770 by falsely claiming he had a tenant living at his property. But he denies knowingly taking £23.50 worth of milk powder from an Asda supermarket without paying for it and then trying to bribe security staff.

The tribunal, due to last until December, continues.