SAN DIEGO (AP) A San Diego city councilman's fatal cirrhosis
of the liver was caused by excessive alcohol consumption, an
autopsy report released Monday said.
Charles L. Lewis III, 37, died Aug. 8 after being rushed to
Kaiser Foundation Hospital. He died from internal bleeding caused
by the cirrhosis, and had a .03 percent blood-alcohol level and
trace amounts of ibuprofen in a blood sample taken early that day.
The autopsy found more than one liter of blood in Lewis'
stomach. Another liter was found in his small intestine.
The trace amount of ibuprofen ``would be consistent with the
therapeutic use of ibuprofen by a person also using alcohol,''
according to a toxicology report that accompanied the autopsy
report. A side effect of ibuprofen is increased risk of internal
bleeding.
The report said Lewis was also taking medication for gout, the
inflammation of joints caused by excessive uric acid.
Lewis was elected to the City Council in 2002. His term was
marred last year when he and two other councilmen were indicted by
a federal grand jury in a probe of corruption at City Hall. The
three, who pleaded not guilty, were accused of accepting bribes
from a strip club owner in exchange for political favors.
Mayor Dick Murphy has said a special election will be held Nov.
30 to fill Lewis' seat. But dozens of residents of Lewis' district
gathered Monday, calling for the special election to be held Nov.
2, the same day as the general election.
The demonstrators said the Nov. 30 date would result in lower
turnout and be expensive for the city.
Murphy said he was advised by City Attorney Casey Gwinn after
Lewis' death that the city could not consolidate the Nov. 2 general
election with the special election because the state deadline for
consolidation had passed.
Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune,
http://www.uniontrib.com
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)