  **  THIS CASE WAS REFERRED TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DEPARTMENT BY PERSONEL OF ETERNAL LIGHT FUNERAL HOME AFTER CERTIFYING PHYSICIAN INCLUDED SPINAL CORD INJURY AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES FOLLOWING A FALL, ON CAUSE OF DEATH. HIS BODY WAS REQUESTED IN FOR PROPER CERTIFICATION.   **
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     ACCORDING TO INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL MEDICAL CHART, AND INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION, THE DECEASED WAS AT HOME ON JULY 20,1996 WHEN HE GOT UP AT 1:00 AM., , WAS DARK AND HE COULD NOT FIND THE LIGHT SWITCH AND FELL DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.   FIRE RESCUE WAS SUMMONED AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED WITH MULTIPLE TRAUMA, INCLUDING A FRACTURE OF THE FRONTAL SINUS, CERVICAL SPINAL CORD CONTUSION, AND A LEFT RADIAL FRACTURE . DURING THE COURSE IN THE HOSPITAL HE DEVELOPED AN ACUTE ABDOMEN/ PERFORATED VISCUS AND REQUIRED SURGERY.  UNDERWENT AN EXPLORATORY LAPAROTOMY WITH PERITONEAL LAVAGE AND OVERSEW OF PERFORATED DUODENAL ULCER ON JULY 27,1996 AND ON AUGUST 9, 1996 A TRACHEOSTOMY WAS DONE DUE TO RESPIRATORY FAILURE. HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND ON AUGUST 18,1996 AT 1:00 AM., HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. 
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     THE DECEASED HAD PREVIOUS HISTORY OF AORTIC STENOSIS, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, OLD CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT, STATUS POST BILATERAL HIP REPLACEMENTS, AND HISTORY OF DIVERTICULOSIS.
  
  