Family sues Connecticut hospital after student died in teledoctor-run ICU

The family of a University of Connecticut dental student who died in an intensive care unit overseen remotely by a “teledoctor” in his final hours has accused the hospital of negligence in a wrongful death lawsuit filed last month

The family of a University of Connecticut dental student who died in an intensive care unit overseen remotely by a “teledoctor” in his final hours has accused the hospital of negligence in a wrongful death lawsuit filed last month.

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Conor Hylton, 26, was admitted to Bridgeport Hospital’s Milford campus in August 2024 after experiencing severe abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Emergency room staff members diagnosed him with alcohol-induced pancreatitis, dehydration and other related issues, according to an after-action report by the state Public Health Department that is cited in the lawsuit.

ICU remote staffing has become more common in recent years as hospitals look for ways to reduce costs and backfill positions. The model expanded during the Covid pandemic, despite concerns from medical workers who worry that virtual care could be slower and less personal, which puts patients at risk.