ONLINE EXTRAS SITE SERVICES  >   > Wednesday, Jul 27, 2005 National                 Posted on Tue, Jul. 26, 2005 Autopsy central in Vioxx trial KRISTEN HAYS Associated Press ANGLETON, Texas - Lawyers on both sides of the nation's first Vioxx-related civil trial on Tuesday deposed the coroner who autopsied a man who died of an irregular heartbeat eight months after beginning a regimen of Vioxx to ease pain in his hands. Dr. Maria Araneta is a crucial witness to the question of whether the once-popular painkiller caused Robert Ernst's death. Plaintiff's attorney Mark Lanier had planned to spring Araneta as a surprise witness Tuesday to testify that a heart attack more than likely killed Ernst, but he died too quickly for his heart to show damage. Merck's legal team persuaded state District Judge Ben Hardin to postpone her testimony to quest

more...