Cure for Cancer
Back in July I wrote something about the Lockerbie bomber - Abdelbaset al-Megrahi - who is still alive and kicking in Tripoli it seems - a full twenty four months after his release from prison in Scotland.
Now some people want to turn this issue into a political football.
But the real question is how come this man is doing so much better in Libya - than he was expected to do if he remained under the care of the NHS in Scotland.
According to press reports today - he is almost certainly being treated with a new hormone therapy - which is available in America and 'war-torn' Libya - but not in the UK.
To my mind that's the real scandal - especially after all the billions of pounds we spend on health care every year.
Here's what I wrote back on 28 July 2011.
I wouldn't change a thing - except maybe to say that al-Megrahi might not make the 2012 Olympics - but only because the Gaddafi regime now appears to be on its last legs.
Cure for Cancer
The sight of the convicted Libyan bomber - Abdelbaset al-Megrahi - at a pro-Gaddafi rally in Tripoli yesterday means just one thing.
The decision to free him was based on duff advice - because unless the Libyans have found a cure for cancer and kept it all to themselves - al-Megrahi should have been dead and buried by now.
Now I don't blame the SNP justice minister - Kenny McAskill - for this embarrassing state of affairs.
No, I think he made a principled decision - even if many people disagreed with McAskill's decision to grant al-Megrahi early release on compassionate grounds.
And we now know that the last Labour government - including the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, of course - were fully in support of the Scottish government's decision.
The person - or people - in the spotlight should be those who gave the minister such poor medical advice.
Nothing would surprise me now - maybe al-Megrahi will be entered as a Libyan competitor in next year's London Olympic Games.
If so, he's sure to get good coverage on the BBC - but I digress.
The point is that the doctor/s said this chap had months to live - yet years later he's still going strong.
So if the Scottish government paid for this medical advice - they should ask for their (our) money back.
Ad take those responsible off the approved - 'letting prisoners out of jail early' advisory panel.
Now some people want to turn this issue into a political football.
But the real question is how come this man is doing so much better in Libya - than he was expected to do if he remained under the care of the NHS in Scotland.
According to press reports today - he is almost certainly being treated with a new hormone therapy - which is available in America and 'war-torn' Libya - but not in the UK.
To my mind that's the real scandal - especially after all the billions of pounds we spend on health care every year.
Here's what I wrote back on 28 July 2011.
I wouldn't change a thing - except maybe to say that al-Megrahi might not make the 2012 Olympics - but only because the Gaddafi regime now appears to be on its last legs.
Cure for Cancer
The sight of the convicted Libyan bomber - Abdelbaset al-Megrahi - at a pro-Gaddafi rally in Tripoli yesterday means just one thing.
The decision to free him was based on duff advice - because unless the Libyans have found a cure for cancer and kept it all to themselves - al-Megrahi should have been dead and buried by now.
Now I don't blame the SNP justice minister - Kenny McAskill - for this embarrassing state of affairs.
No, I think he made a principled decision - even if many people disagreed with McAskill's decision to grant al-Megrahi early release on compassionate grounds.
And we now know that the last Labour government - including the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, of course - were fully in support of the Scottish government's decision.
The person - or people - in the spotlight should be those who gave the minister such poor medical advice.
Nothing would surprise me now - maybe al-Megrahi will be entered as a Libyan competitor in next year's London Olympic Games.
If so, he's sure to get good coverage on the BBC - but I digress.
The point is that the doctor/s said this chap had months to live - yet years later he's still going strong.
So if the Scottish government paid for this medical advice - they should ask for their (our) money back.
Ad take those responsible off the approved - 'letting prisoners out of jail early' advisory panel.
