Man's ear infection spread to his brain. His family claims it could've been caught before he died
A Connecticut man's ear infection allegedly escalated into a brain abscess, triggering a medical-negligence lawsuit. Serhii Zaiats sought care at Yale Urgent Care-Norwalk on Aug. 30, 2025 for right-ear pain, with chills and mild congestion. The clinic diagnosed an ear infection, prescribed amoxicillin, and advised a 3–4 day follow-up. After some initial improvement, he returned with a severe headache and worsening symptoms, and staff attributed his issues to acute sinusitis and an ear infection, prescribing doxycycline, Ofloxacin, and a Medrol dose pack. The suit alleges the evaluation failed to consider a potential bacterial spread to the brain or to order a full workup. On Sept. 18, 2025, Zaiats went to Norwalk Hospital with two weeks of illness, weakness, dizziness, frontal headaches, and vomiting. Laboratory results showed elevated white blood cells, thrombocytosis, and elevated C-reactive protein, and a CT scan was performed. He died on Sept. 20, 2025, and the autopsy reportedly confirmed the infection's progression to a brain abscess. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Russell J. Berkowitz on behalf of Zaiats' wife, names Yale New Haven Health Urgent Care-Norwalk, Norwalk Hospital, Nuvance Health, and several providers as defendants. The case underscores claims of delayed diagnosis and potential brain infection.
