Children's Hospital settles suit in paralysis

The parents of John Price - who had successful transplant surgery at Children's Hospital at age 4, only to be paralyzed by an accident in his follow-up care - have settled a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.

Parties to the settlement agreed not to disclose the terms. The agreement was reached yesterday as the case was set to go to trial in Common Pleas Court. "5

Court documents indicated that John, now 8, was seeking more than $6 million to cover past and future medical expenses, future lost wages and pain and suffering.

In November 1990, John received a liver and small intestine trans plant as treatment for a birth defect called short gut syndrome.

He was readmitted to Children's the following July with symptoms of infection. Doctors performed a spinal tap on July 12, but did not do all of the required tests on the specimens they obtained, said the Prices attorney, Neil Rosen.

A second tap two days later caused hemorrhaging that damaged John's brain and spinal cord, leaving him permanently paralyzed from the chest down, Rosen said.
He said he could not reveal details of the settlement, but that "We are just delighted that we were able to resolve this matter and to obtain for John the kinds of benefits he will need to care for himself for the rest of his life."

The suit named as defendants the hospital, University Surgical Associates and three doctors - You Min Wu, Bakr Nour and Jorge Reyes. Reyes is director of liver and small intestine transplant surgery at Children's.

John, who was born in England, now resides in Missouri, Rosen said.