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.
