December 13, 1996

Stock market plunge in nervous December market noted; graph (S)

New York State health officials level fines and harsh criticism at Cabrini Medical Center and St Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan for misdiagnosing pain of Jonathan Larson in emergency rooms in days before his death; 35-year-old playwright was rushed to emergency rooms twice with severe chest pain and, twice, doctors sent him home, failing to diagnose potentially treatable condition that killed him; Larson was told at Cabrini that he had food poisoning and at St Vincent's that he had a virus, although he had symptoms of neither; he was found dead January 25, days before his rock opera Rent opened; autopsy found he died of tear more than foot long inside his aorta, caused by congenital weakness; Health Comr Dr Barbara DeBuono says aneurysm would have been difficult to diagnose, but says doctors should have tried to find reason for such severe chest pains; family has begun malpractice suit; officials are so concerned about poor quality of care that they fine Cabrini $10,000 and St Vincent's $6,000; other doctors note that aortic aneurysms in young people are rare and immediately life-threatening, but can usually be repaired (M)

Extensive social and labor benefits enjoyed by Norway's 4.35 million people described; nation buoyed by huge oil revenues and guided by strong spirit of egalitarianism, offers citizens everything from extensive family benefits to stays at Government-run health center in Canary Islands; photos; inflation is below two percent, unemployment rate is lowest in Europe, economic growth runs between three and five percent and oil revenues feed billion-dollar budget surplus, with plans for investment fund to maintain that income; Norwegians, including business people, frown on wide disparity in income and accept high income and sales taxes to sustain equality; companies benefit from one of world's best-educated work forces and from advanced technology and computerization (M)

Summary of major news stories on inside pages

Hong Kong continues to eclipse Shanghai as regional financial center, despite signs of economic rebirth in Shanghai; difference between Hong Kong and Shanghai is seen symbolized by Hongkong and Shanghai Bank's presence in each city; old office in Shanghai is vacant; new Hong Kong tower reportedly cost $1 billion; as China emerges from economic isolation, Shanghai hopes to return as region's financial center, but officials caution that business outlook is murky, and there is problem of overregulation; two cities compared; photos (M)