A Florida jury awarded $78 million yesterday to a woman who suffered brain injuries during treatment at a medical center. Henalori "Hena" McGee, 44, was admitted to Sand Lake Hospital in April 1998 suffering from severe abdominal pain. The physician's assistant who examined her failed to discover she was bleeding internally. The assistant gave McGee only pain medication. An hour later, the woman's heart stopped. For thirteen minutes, she had no blood pressure.

After reviving McGee, doctors discovered a tumor on her liver. It was eventually removed but she had already suffered permanent injuries. The jury found the physician's assistant, the doctor and the nursing staff negligent.