SEATTLE, Wash. — The family of a Washington State University student who killed himself is suing the telehealth company that prescribed his antidepressants and the Theta Chi fraternity.
19-year-old Luke Tyler died of suicide in his dorm at WSU in January of 2023. The coroner determined he died of a combination of alcohol and bupropion, a generic for the antidepressant Wellbutrin.
Tyler’s family is now suing Hims & Hers Health Inc. which prescribed Tyler antidepressants through the platform.
The family alleges Hims targeted Tyler through an Instagram ad and then prescribed him a 90-day supply of antidepressants. The lawsuit says a Texas-based Hims provider communicated with Tyler via messaging not video or audio. The lawsuit also says Hims doubled Tyler’s dosage just 30 days later.
The complaint also says bupropion raises risk of suicide.
Tyler’s family says hazing at the Theta Chi fraternity also pushed Tyler to his “breaking point”.
The fraternity and two individuals described as “pledge marshals” are also listed in the lawsuit. They’re accused of failing to protect Tyler and facilitating hazing in the time leading up to his suicide.
Washington State University had previously investigated Theta Chi for hazing related incidents and the organization lost its sanctioning until 2027.
The full complaint can be read below.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
