A young dental student died at a Connecticut hospital where the doctor responsible for his care only saw him virtually, a new lawsuit claims.
Conor Hylton, 26, died on August 15, 2024, after he was admitted to the Bridgeport Hospital Milford Campus.
His family alleged in a medical malpractice lawsuit that the hospital, which is part of the Yale New Haven Health group, failed to provide him with adequate health care that ultimately led to his death.
Hylton was admitted to the hospital the day before his death and was diagnosed with pancreatitis, dehydration, metabolic acidosis and alcohol withdrawal, according to the complaint obtained by the Daily Mail.
As his condition worsened, Hylton was taken to the ICU, where the lawsuit claimed there was not a physical doctor on-site, but rather that he was overseen by a 'tele-health doctor.'
Hylton was allegedly not assessed by an in-person physician until the early morning hours when he slid down his bed, his eyes rolled back and he became unresponsive and exhibited seizure activity, including vomiting and a slowing heart rate.
He was intubated but could not be resuscitated, and was pronounced dead by a tele-health provider on a video screen, the lawsuit alleged.
'[The hospital] allowed for extremely poor communication among the providers responsible for Conor's life, which is especially dangerous to patient care when the hospital is relying on off-site tele-ICU providers to care for its patients,' the filing stated.
Conor Hylton, 26, died after he was admitted to a hospital where the doctor responsible for his care only saw him virtually, a new lawsuit claims
He died at the Bridgeport Hospital Milford Campus on August 15, 2024, after he was taken to the ICU, where the lawsuit claimed there was not a physical doctor on-site
'This lawsuit seeks justice for Conor James Hylton and to dismantle the culture of substandard care and inattention that caused Conor to die so young.'
The filing also claims that Hylton's next of kin, his parents, were never notified that he was being moved to the ICU, and the hospital did not offer his family an autopsy.
The lawsuit comes after a July 2025 investigation by the Connecticut Department of Health found the 'hospital failed to ensure quality medical care was provided' regarding Hylton's care.
The Daily Mail contacted the hospital for comment. A spokesperson for the hospital told the Hartford Courant they are aware of the lawsuit.
'Yale New Haven Health is aware of this lawsuit and is committed to providing the safest and highest quality of care possible, however, we are unable to comment on pending litigation,' the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson acknowledged the use of tele-health in its hospitals, saying the model 'enhances critically ill patients by pairing advanced virtual monitoring with expert bedside teams.'
'A dedicated virtual team collaborates closely with on‑site nurses, physicians and ICU intensivists to provide continuous monitoring, timely decisions and coordinated, high‑quality care throughout the ICU stay.'
Hylton, who was a student at UConn School of Dental Medicine, left behind his parents, two brothers and a heartbroken fiancée, according to his obituary.
Hylton was allegedly not assessed by an in-person physician until he exhibited seizure activity and was pronounced dead by a tele-health provider on a video screen.
'Conor also leaves his amazing group of friends - too many to list - from his hometown, from his athletic activities, each and every school he attended,' the obituary stated.
'As a Senior, Conor was selected as an all-state athlete. His gifted athleticism led him to play Irish football at the New Haven Gaelic Football Club and to receive his black belt in Taekwondo.'
Hylton's father, William, told the local newspaper, 'He had everything lined up for a great life.'
'Conor was engaged to a student in law school, and obviously, everyone's devastated.'