     ACCORDING TO INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE VETERAN ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER MEDICAL CHART AND FROM THE DETAILS OFFICE AT THE SAME INSTITUTION,  THE DECEASED REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN PARAPLEGIC SINCE 1976 WHEN HE SUSTAINED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AFTER A TREE FELL ON HIM.  HE HAD A HISTORY OF OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE, AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.    ON AUGUST 13,1996 HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER WITH THE FOLLOWING ADMISSION DIAGNOSIS:  T4-5 PARAPLEGIA - NEUROGENIC BLADDER AND BOWEL.  STAGE I I PRESSURE SORE RIGHT ISCHEAL AREA. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE.  CHEST X-RAYS DONE ON OCTOBER 6, SHOWED A POSSIBLE TUMOR MASS IN RIGHT UPPER LOBE AND MILD CARDIOMEGALY.     ON OCTOBER 10,1996 HE HAD A BRONCHOSCOPY AND AFTER IT, BECAME APNEIC.  REQUIRED INTUBATION AND WAS STABILIZED.  HE LATER EXTUBATED SELF.  AT ABOUT 7:30 PM., HE DEVELOPED RESPIRATORY ARREST, BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, PULSELESS, AND APNEIC. WAS INTUBATED, MONITOR SHOWED FLAT LINE.  WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 8:00 PM.


                                                      ***  REFILED   11/20/96   GDS  ***