Scotland released the convicted Lockerbie bomber from prison in August 2009 on the grounds he likely had three months to live, even though there was no consensus among specialists treating his prostate cancer that his prognosis was so dire, according to publicly available documents and people familiar with the case.

*                                   *                                  *

While there was no question that Mr. Megrahi's cancer was terminal, there is no evidence that any of his specialists--two urologists and two oncologists--gave or signed off on a three-month prognosis, a review of the records and interviews with people familiar with the case indicate. According to people familiar with the matter, neither of the urologists offered any prognosis or was asked for one.

*                                   *                                  *

Families of Lockerbie victims have long been suspicious of the three-month prognosis, which has received little scrutiny against the backdrop of the BP allegations.

"It was a scam," said Eileen Walsh of Glen Rock, N.J., in an interview Thursday. Her father, brother and pregnant sister died on Pan Am 103. "The man may have cancer, but the condition and the extent of it were greatly exaggerated." She added: "Release his medical records and prove me wrong."