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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Minister defends Lockerbie advice | Minister defends Lockerbie advice |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's justice secretary has defended the quality and range of medical advice he received before his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. | Scotland's justice secretary has defended the quality and range of medical advice he received before his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. |
| Kenny MacAskill released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds - a move criticised by some victims' families. | Kenny MacAskill released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds - a move criticised by some victims' families. |
| Opposition MSPs have questioned whether he consulted appropriate specialists. | Opposition MSPs have questioned whether he consulted appropriate specialists. |
| But Mr MacAskill told BBC Scotland that numerous prostate cancer specialists and consultants were involved. | But Mr MacAskill told BBC Scotland that numerous prostate cancer specialists and consultants were involved. |
| Dr Richard Simpson, the Scottish Labour Party's health spokesman, has raised concerns that there was no cancer specialist involved in the decision-making process. | Dr Richard Simpson, the Scottish Labour Party's health spokesman, has raised concerns that there was no cancer specialist involved in the decision-making process. |
| But the minister said: "In terms of medical reports, I received a clear report from the director of health and social care at the Scottish Prison Service. | But the minister said: "In terms of medical reports, I received a clear report from the director of health and social care at the Scottish Prison Service. |
| There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary | |
| "Whatever Dr Simpson may suggest, this wasn't done on the whim and fancy by the director of health and social care. | "Whatever Dr Simpson may suggest, this wasn't done on the whim and fancy by the director of health and social care. |
| "It was done on the clear information and evidence - not simply his own professional expertise, but following the advice and information available to him from consultants who'd been dealing with Mr al-Megrahi during the course of his illness. | "It was done on the clear information and evidence - not simply his own professional expertise, but following the advice and information available to him from consultants who'd been dealing with Mr al-Megrahi during the course of his illness. |
| "There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants." | "There were numerous prostate cancer specialists, very many consultants." |
| It said it was "rather demeaning" for opposition MSPs to be "seeking to undermine the information provided by such a highly qualified medical professional". | It said it was "rather demeaning" for opposition MSPs to be "seeking to undermine the information provided by such a highly qualified medical professional". |
| Megrahi was freed on 20 August after serving eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing. | |
| A total of 270 people died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the town of Lockerbie in southern Scotland. | |
| The decision to release Megrahi, who was greeted with a hero's welcome when he arrived back in Libya, has divided opinion. |