Stmnt re Orthopaedics Div.

Smith & Nephew Plc
31 March 2005



31 March 2005





Smith and Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN) announces that its Orthopaedics
division has received a subpoena from the United States Attorney's office in
Newark, New Jersey requesting consulting, professional service and remuneration
agreements, in respect of reconstructive products, between Smith & Nephew
Orthopaedics division and orthopaedic surgeons. Smith & Nephew is co-operating
fully with this request.



Enquiries




Liz Hewitt
Group Director Corporate Affairs                      [phone]







About us



Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in
Orthopaedics, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products.  Smith & Nephew
is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of
the fastest growing global orthopaedics companies.



Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  The company
prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and
professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high
standards of performance, innovation and trust.  The company has over 8,000
employees and operates in 32 countries around the world generating annual sales
of £1.25 billion.



Forward-Looking Statements



This press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the
meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In
particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our
operating margins discussed under 'Outlook' are forward-looking statements as
are discussions of our product pipeline.  These statements, as well as the
phrases 'aim', 'plan', 'intend', 'anticipate', 'well-placed', 'believe',
'estimate', 'expect', 'target', 'consider' and similar expressions, are
generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important
factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory
approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements.  Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew
has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most
recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.



All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information
available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof.  All written or oral
forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting
on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the
foregoing.  Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith &
Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.








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