Tyler’s family is pursuing legislation for the T Hill Bill for Safety Standards to ensure safety protocols are in place to protect children. The Hills want to share their story about Tyler’s tragedy to help protect other students and raise awareness among parents about the need for safety standards for student ambassador programs and other similar travel programs.

On June 29, 2007, while on a People to People trip to Tokyo, Japan, Tyler Hill passed away at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center. According to hospital officials, Tyler’s death could have been prevented had he received immediate medical attention. The family filed a lawsuit with the Hennepin County Court in Minnesota on Jan. 28, 2008, and is holding Ambassadors Group, People to People Student Ambassador Programs, People to People International and People to People delegation leaders accountable for failure to contact the Hill family immediately upon Tyler becoming severely ill and failing to “obtain timely and appropriate medical help” for Tyler as they promised.

According to the filing, during the trip, the delegation leaders failed to monitor and supervise Tyler, and failed to monitor his medical condition. Following a hike up Mt. Fuji, Tyler reported that he became severely ill and requested medical attention. The filing reports that his request was denied by the leaders, all four leaders were in Tyler’s room after he was vomiting blood and they left him alone from about 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on June 27 (Tokyo time). The filing states that medical doctors and Tyler’s parents were not notified that Tyler was severely ill. Tyler was left alone in a hotel room without medical care for about 10 hours.

According to the filing, People to People did nothing to assist Tyler or obtain assistance for him, nor did they engage the 24-hour service center to contact Tyler’s parents or medical doctors. Prior to his trip, Tyler and his family discussed his Type-I diabetes and migraine conditions with People to People and the delegation leaders on numerous occasions.

The filing states Tyler’s death was caused because he was refused health care and left unassisted by People to People and Ambassadors Group, all of whom failed to notify Tyler’s parents or medical doctors of his severe illness.