     ACCORDING TO INITIAL INFORMATION RECEIVED: THE DECEASED FELL AT HOME ON OCTOBER 4, 1996 AND WAS ADMITTED TO SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL. DISCHARGE DIAGNOSIS: T-11 FRACTURE, MILD CORD COMPRESSION WITH LOWER EXTREMITY WEAKNESS, HISTORY OF CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT AND SYNCOPE.  DURING HIS HOSPITAL STAY HE UNDERWENT A LAMINECTOMY WHICHAFTER HE BECAME PARALYZED.  HE WAS DISCHARGED ON OCTOBER 17, 1996 TO A REHABILITATION CENTER.
     HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND ON NOVEMBER 19, 1996 HE STARTED HAVING RECTAL BLEED AND HIS HEMATOCRIT DECREASED SLIGHTLY.  HE HAD ALSO BECOME EXTREMELY DEPRESSED, REFUSING TO EAT AND ASKING CARETAKERS TO "SHOOT HIM".  HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO MERCY HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED ON NOVEMBER 20, 1996. HE WAS ADMITTED WITH BILATERAL PNEUMONIA. HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND HE CONTINUED ASKING CARETAKERS TO "HELP HIM DIE".  ON NOVEMBER 25, 1996 HE WAS FOUND PULSELESS AND NOT BREATHING, HE WAS PRONOUNCED AT THAT TIME. 
     
     REMAINS WERE RELEASED TO VAN ORSDEL FUNERAL HOME AND LATER BROUGHT IN FOR PROPER CERTIFICATION.  HE HAS ALSO BEEN TREATED AT SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL AS WELL AS MERCY HOSPITAL.

     PAST MEDICAL HISTORY OF CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT TWO YEARS AGO. HE DID NOT DRINK OR SMOKE AND HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED. HE ALSO LIVED ALONE.