El Paso, Texas — The family of Vaibhav Duggal, a summa cum laude medical student who died by suicide in July 2025, has filed a lawsuit against Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center seeking over $30 million in damages.
The case alleges that the university's mishandling of a patient complaint, combined with harsh disciplinary actions and denial of due process, directly contributed to his death.
Key Facts
• Vaibhav Duggal, 24, was a third-year medical student at TTUHSC El Paso with a 4.0 GPA and no prior disciplinary violations before the incident
• The lawsuit was filed February 9, 2026, in El Paso County District Court, naming TTUHSC and multiple administrators for gross negligence and wrongful death
• Duggal was removed from clinical duties after an unverified patient complaint during an OB/GYN rotation in July 2025, with no screenshots or evidence of alleged inappropriate messages
The complaint stemmed from a female patient who alleged Duggal asked inappropriate personal questions and later contacted her on Instagram. The family disputes these claims, noting the patient provided her Instagram handle and that no message evidence was ever produced.
Medical records initially didn't even document Duggal's presence during the exam.
Despite these unresolved inconsistencies, TTUHSC administrators quickly labeled the matter an
Duggal was immediately removed from all patient care before any proper investigation concluded. His family says this escalation happened without due diligence or fair process.
On July 28, 2025, Duggal attended a meeting where administrators warned he could face dismissal from medical school and that his residency prospects were at risk. He repeatedly asked for a chance to explain his side but was denied meaningful opportunity.
The family says his appeals for clarity were dismissed out of hand.
That same night, at 11:36 p.m., Duggal received a late-night disciplinary email instructing him to prepare for remediation. His father told NRI Pulse:
Ironically, positive clinical evaluations on his file showed no prior professionalism concerns.
On July 29, Vaibhav purchased a firearm. Before his death, he put on his white coat. In his suicide note addressed to his parents and sister, he expressed deep shame, writing that he had "failed" them and was "sorry for the pain.
The lawsuit includes a letter from TTUHSC's Class of 2028 students describing a punitive and unsupportive academic culture. Students reported that faculty made discouraging remarks, with some wishing more students had failed exams and calling the class a "bad batch.
institutional support. Fear of punishment, they say, discourages seeking help during high-stress medical training.
Duggal's parents have drawn parallels to Katie Meyer, Stanford University's soccer captain who died by suicide in March 2022 while facing university disciplinary action. Meyer also received a lengthy late-night disciplinary email that left her deeply distressed. Vivek Duggal said:
The family's message is clear: they want accountability and systemic change.
his father stated.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has not publicly responded to the detailed allegations, citing student privacy protections. The case now moves forward in El Paso County District Court, raising critical questions about how universities handle disciplinary processes, student mental health support, and institutional accountability when students are in crisis.
Do You Know?
Katie Meyer's family also filed a lawsuit against Stanford University after her death in 2022, highlighting how late-night disciplinary notifications have become a pattern in higher education cases involving student suicides
Key Terms
• Gross Negligence: Failure to exercise basic care or responsibility, showing extreme disregard for another person's safety or rights
• Due Process: The right to fair treatment and a proper hearing before facing serious consequences from an institution or government
• Professionalism Violation: Breaking institutional rules about conduct, ethics, or behavior expected of medical students and healthcare professionals
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