A Connecticut family has filed a $15 million lawsuit alleging that remote medical care contributed to the death of their 26-year-old son, Conor James Hylton. The suit claims that a physician directing patient care from 12 miles away via a tele-clinic at Yale New Haven Health was involved in Hylton's final hours at Bridgeport Hospital's Milford Campus.
Hylton died on August 15, 2024, after being admitted to the hospital the previous day with symptoms including vomiting, low blood pressure, and elevated heart and respiratory rates. Doctors diagnosed him with conditions related to alcohol withdrawal, such as dehydration, pancreatitis, and metabolic acidosis. He was given medication and a hospital bed, and his parents left the facility believing he was stable.
However, his condition rapidly deteriorated overnight. According to the lawsuit, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Hylton became unresponsive and exhibited seizure-like activity, began vomiting blood, and his heart rate dropped. Medics intubated him and attempted life-saving measures.
Hylton's father, William H. Hylton, alleged in the lawsuit that he and his wife witnessed medical staff attempting to save their son while a man on a screen provided instructions. The suit claims that efforts to save Hylton and his pronouncement of death were erroneously attributed to a Dr. Denu in the medical record, but that Dr. Denu did not directly participate in the care, with pronouncement being made by a "tele-health" provider on a video screen. Dr. Denu was reportedly the hospitalist overseeing the hospital but told investigators she did not see ICU patients as they were handled by tele-physicians.
The lawsuit further alleges that no physicians saw Conor in person while he was in the ICU for hours, and his parents were not notified of his deteriorating condition until he was near death. The family attorney described the ICU care as a "fake ICU," stating that the responsibility for intensive care cannot be delegated to someone on a screen.
Conor James Hylton, a dental student at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, was following in the footsteps of his dentist parents. His family is seeking $15 million in economic and emotional damages. Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Health have acknowledged the lawsuit and stated they are unable to comment on pending litigation but are committed to providing high-quality care.