Megrahi’s health

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was released on the best medical evidence available, which was that he had only a few months to live.

Colonel Gaddafi proclaims that Megrahi is still alive but can he be believed?

It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that for propaganda purposes a double has taken his place.

What is not in doubt is that by keeping him “alive” the new “wonder treatment” for prostate cancer available in Libya but not in the UK has received worldwide publicity.

Patients in the UK trying to cope with prostate cancer will want to know why this treatment is not available for them.

There may be very sound medical reasons but the government has a duty to provide an explanation.

Thomas L Inglis

Menzies Avenue

Fintry

Excuse the cynicism, but I am certain Stan Grodynski’s plea (Letters, 22 August) for “Scotland’s reputation” over the Megrahi affair in actual fact means the SNP’s reputation. Once again it seems an example of those who believe the terms are freely interchangeable.

Mr Grodynski, I fear, wants to silence those with deep and understandable reservations about the competence and motivation of the decision to free the convicted mass murdering terrorist not for any reasons of compassion but because it is embarrassing to the SNP.

This is the party-country-interchangeable thinking of the despotic regimes that ran Eastern Europe for many years. Critics there were labelled “insane” and sent to the gulags.

Long may the critics of the SNP have their say in the columns of The Scotsman and elsewhere.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh