UK Doctor Struck Off After Uploading Brain Surgery Photo to Dating Site and Threatening Woman with Waterboarding

Dr Sayed Talibi was suspended with immediate effect

A doctor who uploaded a photo of himself performing brain surgery on a patient without consent to a dating site has been permanently struck off the medical register.

Dr. Sayed Talibi, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, admitted posting the photo in September 2017, showing a patient’s exposed brain during live surgery alongside a dating profile description of himself as a “28-year-old brain surgeon.” The patient was unaware of the image being used.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found Dr. Talibi guilty of serious misconduct, including threatening a woman with waterboarding, making racist remarks, posing for pictures with weapons, and engaging in abusive behavior. Some allegations were linked to an unnamed woman who accused him of “forced sex” and coercive conduct.

Dr. Talibi was immediately struck off the General Medical Council (GMC) register following the tribunal’s decision.

The case began when Talibi contacted the GMC in October 2017, informing the regulator of a police investigation into what he described as “totally unfounded” allegations made against him by a woman. In July 2018, West Midlands Police notified the GMC that he had been arrested on suspicion of coercive and controlling behavior and three allegations of rape. Police seized his devices, uncovering images of him holding knives, an axe, and replica firearms.

A number of allegations against Dr Talibi were found to be proved

The tribunal heard that between 2016 and 2017, Talibi physically assaulted a woman, threatened her with waterboarding, and in 2017 intentionally penetrated her without consent. In 2018, he breached an order preventing him from contacting her. Police later decided not to pursue charges in relation to the allegations.

Investigators also discovered that Talibi downloaded or viewed violent extremist content, including footage of beheadings, killings, and images of a waterboarding device.

The tribunal found he made racist and derogatory comments between January 2016 and August 2017, including: “I hate Afghan culture” and “I hate kuffar [non-Muslims] and white people.” In separate incidents, Talibi stole £23.50 of milk powder from an Asda store in Tamworth in May 2017 and provided false information to his energy supplier regarding a £770 bill the following month.

MPTS panel chair Andrew Lewis said allowing Talibi to return to practice would be “inconsistent with its findings regarding the seriousness of his misconduct and the risk of repetition.” He added that immediate erasure from the register was “necessary to maintain public confidence in the profession.”

Talibi has 28 days to appeal the ruling.