Michael Kopelman

Michael David Kopelman (born February 8, 1950) is a British researcher of memory disorders, having contributed for more than 30 years to the development of cognitive neuropsychology and cognitive neuropsychiatry. Until his retirement in 2015, he was lead clinician at the Neuropsychiatry and Memory Disorders Clinic at St Thomas' National Health Service teaching hospital in Central London. Beginning in 1981, he also served as an expert witness in legal proceedings, including high-profile cases.

Education Kopelman's first degree was in psychology.

Research and career Kopelman's research interests include neurological memory disorders, especially retrograde amnesia; confabulation; executive function; semantic dementia; and psychogenic amnesia, particularly the nature of amnesia for offences. He is also a member of the British Psychological Society and Royal College of Psychiatrists. The judgment quoted Kopelman, who evaluated Assange in HM Prison Belmarsh in 2019 and 2020: "I am as confident as a psychiatrist ever can be that, if extradition to the United States were to become imminent, Mr. Assange will find a way of suiciding." The judge ordered Assange released. Holroyde called it unusual for an appellate court to reassess expert witness evidence accepted by a lower court, but said it was arguable that the High Court might eventually reach a different conclusion, given that Kopelman had omitted to disclose what he knew about Assange's relationship with Stella Moris. The High Court was expected to convene a full hearing in October 2021.

Publications Kopelman has authored nearly 200 scientific articles. Lishman's Organic Psychiatry: A Textbook of Neuropsychiatry, 4th Edition (coauthor; 2012)

Awards Kopelman received the 2013 Distinguished Career Award from the International Neuropsychological Society for his contributions to neuropsychology. The commendation recognized his "human rights medico-legal work on behalf of detainees and Guantanamo returnees."