A post by Pat
August 20th is the 1-yr anniversary of the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, who at that time presumably had only three months to live. It is more than a marvel that he has outlasted that prognosis. There is a Congressional inquiry into what went on behind the scenes. As you know, allegations have been made that al-Megrahi’s release was connected to BP oil deals with Libya. Those allegations have been denied, most recently by former BP chief executive Lord Browne. US Senators are calling for whistleblowers to come forward with evidence about the Lockerbie case. A move regarded by the Scottish government as interference.
Only recently has the name of al-Megrahi’s prison doctor been released, Dr. Peter Kay. Dr. Kay provided the crucial medical report concluding al-Megrahi was likely to die within three months, the basis for the compassionate release. Dr. Kay initially denied he was al-Megrahi’s prison doctor but later fended off questions by claiming patient confidentiality. Dr. Kay is registered as a general practitioner, not a cancer specialist. A spokesman for the Scottish government continues to deny Dr. Kay was al-Megrahi’s prison doctor. That spokesman named a Dr. Fraser who drew on expert advice from “a number of cancer specialists”. However, those experts claim they were not consulted in the decision to release.
Doctors not consulted on Lockerbie bomber’s release
Speaking publicly for the first time, Zak Latif, Megrahi’s urologist in Scotland, said: “I was surprised when I heard he was being released because I wasn’t really asked for my opinion . . . it’s a bit odd.”
US senators have demanded that Megrahi’s full medical records be made public and his doctors named. The four key experts involved in Megrahi’s care were cited by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill as specialists who shared a “firm consensus” about his fate.
However, none of them signed off on the three-month prognosis, nor were they contacted before Megrahi’s triumphant return to Libya on August 20 last year. One of the doctors said last week that he had had nothing to do with the case since October 2008.
Lockerbie families raise new questions over bomber
“The Scottish government should be embarrassed and the U.K. government should be embarrassed,” said Duggan, a retired lawyer who advises some bereaved families. “It’s no surprise to us that these doubts are coming out. We were expecting this.”
Gadaffi’s son to throw party to celebrate release of Al Megrahi one year ago
Who knows, maybe there will be a party on the second anniversary too. Bomber freed to die is now being given ‘miracle cure’ drug: Treatment could add 18 months to his life)
Distrust is in order – verified! Thanks for a timely update on this story Pat.
and we have a case of too little too late. The families of the victims of the crash, Americans and in Scotland, deserve better
If only Billy Cumberland were alive. He’d know how to handle these damn Scotsmen.
The docs making rendering the opinions were paid by the Libyan government. They were going to come the conclusion they were paid to come up with. One doctor, Professor Karol Sikora, after being confronted with his culpability in the release, had this response:
“What I find difficult is the idea I took the key and let him out,” Prof Sikora told The Observer newspaper.
“I provided an opinion, others provided an opinion, and someone else let him out.
“That decision of compassionate release is nothing to do with me. No one asked me, ‘Should we let him out?'”
You can read it yourself here: http://bit.ly/bmWtji
Would it be mean to hope he’s having two common side effects of prostate cancer therapy – impotence and incontinence?