NATION IN BRIEF : NEW YORK : Doctor With AIDS Wins $1.35 Million

A doctor who contracted AIDS from a discarded needle at a hospital was paid $1.35 million to settle a negligence lawsuit filed against the city and two physicians. Dr. Veronica Prego, 32, had claimed that she pricked her finger on a needle filled with blood from an AIDS patient when working at Kings County Hospital in New York City. The settlement, which included dropping the physicians from the suit, was announced as a nine-week trial was nearing completion in Brooklyn. Justice Aaron Bernstein released details of the settlement after the New York Post successfully petitioned to have a gag order lifted.