    ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION, INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE WIFE OF THE DECEASED AND BAPTIST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM RECORDS.  THE DECEASED WAS A SEAMAN WHO RETURNED HOME FROM AFRICA IN NOV. OF 1993.  UPON HIS RETURN, HE WAS EXPERIENCING FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS.  IN JAN. OF 1994, HE WAS SEEN BY A LUNG SPECIALIST WHO ADVISED HIM THAT HIS LEFT LUNG HAD COLLAPSED.  SINCE THAT TIME, HE HAD UNDERGONE TREATMENT FOR HIS LUNGS AND WAS ON HOME OXYGEN.  ABT. ONE MONTH AGO, HE BEGAN COUGHING AND GETTING WEAK.  ON THRUSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1996, HE WENT TO SEE HIS PHYSCIAN AND RECEIVED A LUNG INJECTION.  SINCE THEN HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE.  ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1996, HE BEGAN HALLUCINATING.  ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1996, HIS WIFE WENT TO ECKERDS DRUG STORE TO GET HIS MEDICATION.  WHEN SHE LEFT, SHE LEFT HIM IN BED.  UPON HER RETURN, SHE FOUND HIM SEMI-RESPONSIVE IN BED.  SHE CALLED FIRE RESCUE WHO RESPONDED AND UPON ARRIVAL, FOUND HIM IN FULL CARDIAC ARREST WITH EKG MONITOR SHOWING ASYSTOLE.  EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS ADMINISTERED AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO BAPTIST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM.  
    UPON ARRIVAL AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, HE REMAINED UNRESPONSIVE, WITHOUT VITAL SIGNS, AND IN FULL CARDIAC ARREST WITH EKG MONITOR REMAINING IN ASYSTOLE.  ADVANCE CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT WAS ADMINISTERED, HOWEVER, WITHOUT SUCCESS AND AT 1:37P.M., HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
    HE HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED SEVERAL TIMES AT SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL.  HIS LAST ADMISSION WAS FROM AUGUST 30, 1996 TO SEPTEMBER 4, 1996.  DISCHARGE DIAGNOSIS:  ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA (BACTERIAL, RESOLVING), GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE, CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, RESTRICTIVE LUNG DISEASE, PULMONARY HYPERTENSION, SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION, COR PULMONALE, SUSPECTED SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME (MILD), GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE, DYSRHYTHMIA (ATRIAL VENTRICULAR), TYPE II RESPIRATORY INSUFICIENCY BY ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS, GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.  DISCHARGE MEDICATIONS:  VENTOLIN INHALER, ATROVENT AND VANCERIL.  PREDNISONE 30MG, DIGOXIN .25MG, VERAPAMIL-SR 180MG, TAMBOCOR 50MG, ZANTAC 150MG, THEO-DUR 300MG, AND VANCENASE INHALER.  NO MEDICATIONS WERE TRANSPORTED.
