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The parents of a Washington State University freshman who died by suicide have filed a sweeping lawsuit against Hims & Hers Health Inc., alleging the telehealth giant rushed their son into a dangerous antidepressant regimen despite clear warnings about its risks to adolescents and his own history of self-harm.

Teen Received Prescription Within an Hour, Family Says

Nineteen-year-old Luke Tyler, a kinesiology major and aspiring physical therapist, signed up for the Hims platform in August 2022. According to the complaint filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court, he received a prescription for bupropion — an antidepressant tied to heightened suicidality in teens — within an hour of creating his account.

Tyler told the Hims provider that he had undiagnosed depression, past self-harm, and was searching for a low-cost way to cope without worrying his parents. Yet, the suit claims, no meaningful follow-up occurred.

Dosage Doubled Without Assessment

“No Questions, Just More Pills,” Parents Say

At the start of his freshman year, Tyler began taking the medication while pledging the Theta Chi fraternity. His parents say he faced intense hazing, compounding his emotional strain.

A month later, Tyler messaged the provider again, reporting he felt no improvement except increased irritability. Instead of evaluating him, the provider doubled his dosage to 300 mg and issued 90 pills with automatic refills — even though he still possessed most of his initial prescription.

The complaint emphasizes that studies link bupropion to increased suicidal behavior among teens aged 13 to 19, and that youth who self-harm using bupropion face higher rates of severe medical complications than those using other antidepressants.

No Monitoring Despite Suicide Risk Warnings

While Wellbutrin XL’s label warns of suicidal thoughts in teenagers and young adults, the lawsuit alleges Hims’ providers failed to watch for deterioration or emerging suicidal ideation. Tyler had no contact with Hims for more than a month after the dosage increase.

In November, the teen messaged the company to say the medication made him feel worse, that he had stopped taking it and wanted to cancel his subscription. According to the suit, Hims did not warn him about the dangers of keeping a large supply of bupropion nor did it check on him after he discontinued the drug. He was told tapering was unnecessary.

Suicide Before Fraternity “Hell Week”

On Jan. 22, 2023 — the night before Theta Chi’s “Hell Week” for pledges — Tyler consumed a large portion of his remaining pills and died by suicide, the complaint states.

Suit Accuses Hims of Exploiting Regulatory Gaps

The Tylers say the telehealth company built its business by circumventing state bans on non-medical ownership of healthcare providers. The complaint claims Hims created a network of “affiliated medical groups” controlled by unqualified individuals to funnel profits back to the corporation.

These providers, the suit alleges, issued prescriptions from home offices nationwide with little or no direct interaction, supervision or oversight.

Similar Claims Raised Against Other Telehealth Services

The lawsuit mirrors another case involving Mindbloom, a ketamine therapy provider sued in October by the father of a 27-year-old man who died after receiving the anesthetic despite hypertension and substance abuse history. That suit argues Mindbloom failed to screen or supervise patients adequately.

Hazing Allegations Against Theta Chi

The Tylers also say their son endured unlawful hazing by the fraternity, alleging he was forced to clean the house nearly daily, fight other pledges, drink an entire bottle of alcohol on “big-brother” night and lick syrup off the floor. Washington state law bans hazing.

Theta Chi said it had not been aware of the lawsuit. “The fraternity condemns all forms of hazing,” a spokesperson told Law360, declining further comment due to pending litigation.

Legal Teams and Responses

Hims did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Tylers are represented by Jonathon N. Fazzola, Jacob R. Goodman and Douglas E. Fierberg of The Fierberg National Law Group PLLC, along with Rebecca J. Roe, Sims G. Weymuller and Sergio A. Garcidueñas-Sease of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender.

Counsel for other defendants was not available Monday.