Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Nathaniel Pryor Jr. was delivered by emergency cesarean section at Rush-Copley Medical Center. Pediatrician Hinna Kahn provided care to Pryor after his birth and for the next two days. During this time, Pryor had trouble breastfeeding and lost 6% of his body weight. Kahn ordered supplemental formula and discharged Pryor.

Pryor suffered a seizure at home the next day and was returned to the hospital, where he was diagnosed as having severe hypoglycemic brain damage. Now 9, he suffers from cerebral palsy and seizure disorder and cannot walk or talk.

Pryor, through a guardian, and his parents, individually, sued the hospital, Khan, and a medical group, alleging that the defendants failed to diagnose Pryor’s malnourishment and hypoglycemia before his discharge. The plaintiffs asserted that the physician should have ordered glucose testing, and that the child should not have been discharged before an effective feeding pattern had been established.

The parties settled for $2 million.

Citation: Pryor v. Rush-Copley Med. Ctr., Inc., No. 19-CV-08496 (N.D. Ill. July 28, 2023).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Matthew M. Patterson, Jack Beam, and Ryan P. Timoney, all of Chicago.