    ACCORDING TO INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE HUSBAND OF THE DECEASED AND BAPTIST HOSPITAL MEDICAL RECORDS.  ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1996, THE DECEASED WAS ADMITTED TO BAPTIST HOSPITAL AFTER EXPERIENCING ALTERED MENTAL STATUS.  ACCORDING TO HER HUSBAND,  ABT. 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THIS ADMISSION, SHE FELL OUT OF HER WHEELCHAIR, AND STRUCK HER HEAD.  A SHORT TIME THEREAFTER, SHE DEVELOPED A CHANGE IN HER MENTAL STATUS.    AT THE TIME OF HER ADMISSION, SHE WAS UNABLE TO GIVE CLEAR INFORMATION.  A LACERATION TO HER LEFT FOREHEAD WAS NOTED.  VITAL SIGNS WERE AS FOLLOW:  B/P 140/62, TEMP. 98 AND PULSE 88.  ADMITTING DIAGNOSIS:  ALTERED MENTAL STATUS RELATED POSSIBLY TO RECENT HEAD TRAUMA, CHRONIC DEMENTIA, MULTIPLE MYELOMA DIAGNOSED IN JUNE OF 1996,   CT SCAN OF THE BRAIN WAS PERFORMED AND REVEALED SOME MILD PERIVENTRICULAR ISCHEMIC CHANGES (AGE-RELATED), THERE WERE NO MASS, MASS EFFECT, HEMORRHAGE OR INFARCT IDENTIFIED.  HOWEVER, ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1996, SHE BECAME INCREASINGLY AGITATED, OBTUNDED, INCONTINENT, AND APPARENTLY NON-MOVING, UNRESPONSIVE, BUT RESPONSIVE TO DEEP PAIN STIMULI.  HER B/P WAS 207/72, PULSE 62, RESPIRATION 18, AND TEMP. 97.8.  TREATMENT WAS CONTINUED, HOWEVER, HER CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1996, AT 10:40A.M., SHE EXPIRED.