In this news article (30 November, p 1258), we inadvertently said that Dr Andrew Selby, a consultant paediatrician at Alder Hey Hospital, had been referred to the General Medical Council by the chief medical officer, Professor Liam Donaldson. This was incorrect. Dr Selby was not one of the 16 doctors referred to the GMC by Professor Donaldson. He was appointed in 1995 and had no involvement in the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital inquiry (BMJ2001;322:260) His referral to the GMC was made by the parents of Owen Williams, the child referred to in the GMC hearing.