A Cambridge University professor has been accused of deliberately underperforming on IQ and memory tests to support a £1 million compensation claim for brain damage.
Dr Mohamed Atef Hakmi, 64, an orthopaedic surgeon and lecturer at the Cambridge School of Medicine, suffered a stroke at home in 2016 that left him with lasting disabilities and forced him to stop performing surgeries. He claims that delays in diagnosing the stroke led to missed treatment opportunities, causing significant brain and physical impairments. Dr Hakmi is now suing the NHS in the High Court for more than £1 million in damages.
As part of the legal proceedings, Dr Hakmi scored an IQ of 84 – well below the UK average – which has raised suspicions. Despite his ongoing academic role at a world-leading university, the score suggests significant cognitive impairment. Dr Hakmi denies intentionally skewing the results, insisting the tests were “exhausting.”
Specialising in foot and ankle surgery, Dr Hakmi suffered his first stroke in September 2016. After receiving thrombolysis treatment, he initially recovered well and returned to surgery within weeks. However, his barrister, Robert Kellar KC, told the court that Dr Hakmi experienced a second stroke in November that year. He noticed the symptoms while working late and sought help at Lister Hospital in Stevenage after symptoms worsened.
According to Dr Hakmi, the on-call doctor—based at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital—dismissed the stroke symptoms, suggesting a migraine or epilepsy. It wasn’t until 9 a.m. that a stroke was confirmed, by which time thrombolysis was no longer an option. He accuses the NHS of multiple failings, including a substandard A&E examination and a lack of in-person specialist assessment.
John de Bono KC, representing the NHS trusts, argued that Dr Hakmi is not entitled to damages and has exaggerated his condition. He questioned the credibility of a surgeon and lecturer performing at a high level while allegedly functioning below the cognitive abilities of 86% of the population.
Dr Hakmi’s claim is against East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, which operates the Lister Hospital, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, where the remote stroke specialist was located. Both trusts deny liability.
The hearing is ongoing.