The parents of Vaibhav Duggal, a medical student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, have filed a $30 million lawsuit alleging negligence. The legal action claims that an unfair disciplinary process and lack of mental health support led to their son's death in July 2025.
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The parents of Vaibhav Duggal, a former medical student at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, have initiated a lawsuit seeking $30 million in damages. The legal action follows the tragic death of the 24-year-old student in July 2025. The lawsuit alleges that the university’s disciplinary procedures were opaque and that the institution failed to provide adequate mental health support during a time of intense personal and academic pressure.
The disciplinary issues began following a clinical rotation at an OB/GYN facility. During a medical examination, Duggal asked a patient questions about her relationship as part of a routine medical history inquiry and remained in the room during a procedure with her consent. While Duggal later realized the interaction was inappropriate and blocked the patient on social media, the patient subsequently filed a formal complaint. This complaint led to his immediate removal from the clinical rotation and the start of a university investigation.
The lawsuit asserts that the administrative process regarding this incident placed excessive strain on Duggal, who feared he would be expelled from the medical program. His family argues that these circumstances, combined with a lack of institutional support for his mental health, created an environment that contributed to his death. The family is calling for significant policy reforms at the university to ensure that student welfare and fair investigative processes are prioritized in the future.
In addition to the suit filed by his parents, a separate legal action has been initiated by Duggal’s girlfriend. Court documents related to her filing indicate that Duggal had discussed his anxieties regarding the clinic incident and his subsequent social media actions with her before his passing.
For stakeholders and observers, the key monitorable will be the university’s response to these allegations and whether the legal proceedings lead to changes in how medical schools handle student disciplinary matters and mental health resources. Investors and observers interested in higher education governance will likely track updates regarding the court’s scheduling, any potential out-of-court settlements, or formal responses from the university administration as the case progresses through the legal system.