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Fresh doubts over the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber were raised last night.
It emerged that the doctor who advised that Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi had fewer than three months to live was not an expert in prostate cancer.
This advice was instrumental in persuading the Scottish government to release him on compassionate grounds, and allow him to return to Libya - where he received a hero's welcome.
Under Scottish law, the Justice Secretary can consider releasing people if they are thought to be fewer than three months from death.
But the official report on Mr Megrahi's health, which was released yesterday, said that no prostate cancer specialist 'would be willing to say' how long he had left to live.
Instead, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill relied on the 'opinion' of an unnamed doctor, believed to be a GP, who had no experience in terminal prostate cancer.
The report to Mr MacAskill, of the Scottish National Party, was written by Dr Andrew Fraser, director of health and care with the Scottish Prison Service.
It said: 'Whether or not the prognosis is more or less than three months, no specialist would be willing to say.'
But the report contains a reference to an unnamed doctor who 'dealt with him prior to, during and following the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer'.
It added: 'Having seen him during each of these stages, his clinical condition has declined significantly over the last week [26 July to 3 August].
'The clinical assessment, therefore, is that a three month prognosis is now a reasonable estimate for this patient.'
Labour seized on the report, saying it showed that the SNP had believed someone who was not an expert and had not taken into account the fact that prostate cancer specialists had declined to give a view.
Dr Richard Simpson, a Labour MSP and former member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons' prostate cancer group, said: 'The Scottish Government has misrepresented the medical evidence.
'The Justice Secretary chose to disregard the advice of specialists and release al-Megrahi on the advice of one doctor, who we now know was not a specialist.
'At the very least, Kenny MacAskill should have sought a second opinion confirming the patient's prognosis from a specialist in palliative care. That he did not do so showed a disregard for due process and the significance of the decision.'
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: 'The latest assessment of his condition was conducted by the Scottish Prison Service primary care physician treating Mr al-Megrahi, in close consultation with a highly experienced NHS consultant oncologist of many years' experience - both of whom have dealt with Mr al-Megrahi's case since the earliest stages following the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer.
'It was assessed that Mr al-Megrahi's clinical condition had declined significantly during the week 26 July to 3 August.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dvice-just-ONE-GP.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0Paro6RQj
'It was the conclusion of the report, in light of all the medical information, and having reviewed the contributions of all of the clinicians involved in Mr al-Megrahi's case, that "the clinical assessment is that a three month prognosis is now a reasonable estimate for this patient".
'This view is based upon an analysis of all the views expressed and the consensus of the medical experts that the condition of Mr al-Megrahi was now entering its final stages.'
It has also emerged this week that Mr MacAskill did not ask Strathclyde Police about the security implications of moving Mr Megrahi to secure accommodation in Scotland, rather than allowing him to return to Libya - despite the fact he claimed he had.
Meanwhile, Lord Mandelson has tried to head off accusations that his meeting on Corfu with the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi led to Mr Megrahi's release.
The business secretary will declare his holiday in Lord Rothschild's villa on the Greek island in the Lords Register of Interests.
It was here where he met Saif Muammar Gaddafi, who raised the issue of Mr Megrahi - but Lord Mandelson insisted the issue was a matter for the devolved Scottish government.
Last night Downing Street would not say whether Mr Mandelson had told the prime minister about the meeting with Mr Gaddafi.
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell said: 'It is far from clear whether Lord Mandelson informed Downing Street of his activities at the beginning of August.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dvice-just-ONE-GP.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0ParsIrQn
It emerged that the doctor who advised that Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi had fewer than three months to live was not an expert in prostate cancer.
This advice was instrumental in persuading the Scottish government to release him on compassionate grounds, and allow him to return to Libya - where he received a hero's welcome.
Under Scottish law, the Justice Secretary can consider releasing people if they are thought to be fewer than three months from death.
But the official report on Mr Megrahi's health, which was released yesterday, said that no prostate cancer specialist 'would be willing to say' how long he had left to live.
Instead, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill relied on the 'opinion' of an unnamed doctor, believed to be a GP, who had no experience in terminal prostate cancer.
The report to Mr MacAskill, of the Scottish National Party, was written by Dr Andrew Fraser, director of health and care with the Scottish Prison Service.
It said: 'Whether or not the prognosis is more or less than three months, no specialist would be willing to say.'
But the report contains a reference to an unnamed doctor who 'dealt with him prior to, during and following the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer'.
It added: 'Having seen him during each of these stages, his clinical condition has declined significantly over the last week [26 July to 3 August].
'The clinical assessment, therefore, is that a three month prognosis is now a reasonable estimate for this patient.'
Labour seized on the report, saying it showed that the SNP had believed someone who was not an expert and had not taken into account the fact that prostate cancer specialists had declined to give a view.
Dr Richard Simpson, a Labour MSP and former member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons' prostate cancer group, said: 'The Scottish Government has misrepresented the medical evidence.
'The Justice Secretary chose to disregard the advice of specialists and release al-Megrahi on the advice of one doctor, who we now know was not a specialist.
'At the very least, Kenny MacAskill should have sought a second opinion confirming the patient's prognosis from a specialist in palliative care. That he did not do so showed a disregard for due process and the significance of the decision.'
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: 'The latest assessment of his condition was conducted by the Scottish Prison Service primary care physician treating Mr al-Megrahi, in close consultation with a highly experienced NHS consultant oncologist of many years' experience - both of whom have dealt with Mr al-Megrahi's case since the earliest stages following the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer.
'It was assessed that Mr al-Megrahi's clinical condition had declined significantly during the week 26 July to 3 August.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dvice-just-ONE-GP.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0Paro6RQj
'It was the conclusion of the report, in light of all the medical information, and having reviewed the contributions of all of the clinicians involved in Mr al-Megrahi's case, that "the clinical assessment is that a three month prognosis is now a reasonable estimate for this patient".
'This view is based upon an analysis of all the views expressed and the consensus of the medical experts that the condition of Mr al-Megrahi was now entering its final stages.'
It has also emerged this week that Mr MacAskill did not ask Strathclyde Police about the security implications of moving Mr Megrahi to secure accommodation in Scotland, rather than allowing him to return to Libya - despite the fact he claimed he had.
Meanwhile, Lord Mandelson has tried to head off accusations that his meeting on Corfu with the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi led to Mr Megrahi's release.
The business secretary will declare his holiday in Lord Rothschild's villa on the Greek island in the Lords Register of Interests.
It was here where he met Saif Muammar Gaddafi, who raised the issue of Mr Megrahi - but Lord Mandelson insisted the issue was a matter for the devolved Scottish government.
Last night Downing Street would not say whether Mr Mandelson had told the prime minister about the meeting with Mr Gaddafi.
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell said: 'It is far from clear whether Lord Mandelson informed Downing Street of his activities at the beginning of August.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dvice-just-ONE-GP.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0ParsIrQn
