4 JANUARY 1997, Page 11

Professor David Reeves

IN THE High Court last month, The Spectator apologised to Professor David Reeves of Southmead Hospital in Bristol for allegations made in an article published on 29 July 1995. The article, which was entitled 'Now then, what seems to be the trouble?', considered a number of complaints about doctors which had been made to the GMC.

The article reported allegations that Professor Reeves had been prepared to give a dishonest medical opinion in a case of medical negligence in which he had been instructed to give an expert view on behalf of a health authority. It was alleged that Professor Reeves's opinion (on the dosage of an antibiotic called gentamicin) was inconsistent with his own previously published views and with views he had expressed in another case in which he had acted as expert.

In court, The Spectator accepted that Professor Reeves's views were not inconsistent, that he had not acted dishonestly and had not committed perjury. The Spectator apolo- gised unreservedly for having made the allegations. The Spectator has agreed to pay Professor Reeves a substantial sum of damages and his legal costs.