Cancer specialist 'did not endorse Lockerbie bomber prognosis'

A cancer specialist who examined the Lockerbie bomber did not endorse the view that he had less than three months to live, it was reported today.

Professor Jonathan Waxman, one of the world’s leading oncologists, visited Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in prison a year ago but said he is not surprised to see him alive today.

Megrahi’s release on compassionate grounds was on the basis of a medical report which indicated he had three months to live – but next month will mark a year since he was freed.

Prof Waxman told the Sunday Express today: “The Scottish government took its own advice, not mine.

“I did not say three months and I am not at all surprised to see him alive.

“The problem with a prognosis like this is that there is no such thing as an average person.”

The Tories today stepped up the pressure on the Scottish government to publish all the medical evidence which led to Megrahi’s release.

Ministers have published the report which concluded a three-month prognosis was reasonable.

But Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesman John Lamont demanded to know how many specialists and doctors examined the bomber.

He added: “Every day that the SNP refuses to publish all the medical evidence, suspicion only grows that they have something to hide.

“If the SNP released the Lockerbie Bomber in good faith and based on a consensus of expert medical advice, they should clear up the confusion and doubt by making all the reports public immediately.”

Megrahi is the only person convicted of the 1988 bombing in which 270 people were killed.

His release has prompted fury in the US.

Calls for the decision to be re-examined grew in volume in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico Oil spill, and reports that BP had lobbied for the bomber to be freed.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced plans for an inquiry into the bomber’s release, but Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw have both rejected calls to give evidence in person.