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US Man Says ChatGPT's Medical Advice Nearly Killed Him: How Safe Is AI for Health Questions?

A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that medical advice provided by ChatGPT nearly cost him his life after the chatbot repeatedly discouraged him from seeking medical care.

Scott Winters, a former pastor, filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court, claiming ChatGPT repeatedly advised him against seeking medical help as he experienced symptoms leading up to a near-fatal pulmonary embolism—a sudden and dangerous blockage in an artery in the lungs.

"ChatGPT-4o frequently opined on and evaluated Scott's physical condition, conveying the authority and confidence of a medical professional rendering a clinical assessment and treatment recommendation, despite not having the qualifications to do so," the lawsuit states.

Winters' lawyers further allege that the platform "repeatedly and insistently misdiagnosed" him while drawing on previous discussions about religion to reassure him that he would recover.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/times-now-health-summit-2026-ai-cannot-replace-doctors-it-can-only-complement-says-dr-santosh-sivaranjani-article-154699567" data-type="tilCustomLink">AI Cannot Replace Doctors, It Can Only Complement, Says Dr Santosh Sivaranjani</a>

According to the lawsuit, Winters became a regular ChatGPT user and gradually came to rely on the chatbot for medical advice, resisting repeated efforts by family members and friends to persuade him to visit a hospital.

Weeks before becoming critically ill, he consulted ChatGPT about recurring dizzy spells and "bouts of blood pressure instability."

The lawsuit claims that in one response, ChatGPT advised Winters to remain in the recliner chair to which he had become "mainly confined to" because of his worsening health.

Court documents state that Winters later suffered a "massive pulmonary embolism due to multiple blood clots in both of his lungs that brought him to the brink of death, one that his doctors stated was likely brought on because of his immobility."

Winters is seeking financial damages and is asking the court to require OpenAI to implement "reasonable safeguards that protect other users from harm."

<h2>ChatGPT Not Intended For Medical Care</h2>

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/women-turning-to-ai-for-health-detection-helpful-tool-or-risky-trend-womens-day-special-article-153781621" data-type="tilCustomLink">Women Turning to AI for Health Detection: Helpful Tool or Risky Trend? </a>

Earlier this year, OpenAI launched a new ChatGPT Health feature in the US that can analyze users' medical records to provide more personalised responses, although campaigners have raised privacy concerns.

At the time, OpenAI said more than 230 million people ask ChatGPT questions about their health and wellbeing every week. In a blog post, the company said ChatGPT Health offers "enhanced privacy to protect sensitive data."

"ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment," OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CBS News, reacting to allegations.

He added: "AI can make that experience better by helping them find clearer answers, organize their questions and prepare for conversations with medical professionals."

ChatGPT's terms of use state that users should not treat the chatbot as a "sole source of truth," particularly for decisions that could "have a legal or material impact on that person, such as making credit, educational, employment, housing, insurance, legal, medical, or other important decisions about them."

This is not the first lawsuit OpenAI has faced over users' health and safety.

In May, a Texas couple whose son died from an overdose after seeking information about drugs from ChatGPT sued OpenAI, alleging he would still be alive if the company had not "bypassed safety guards."

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A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that medical advice provided by ChatGPT nearly cost him his life after the chatbot repeatedly discouraged him from seeking medical care.Scott Winters, a former pastor, filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court, claiming ChatGPT repeatedly advised him against seeking medical help as he experienced symptoms leading up to a near-fatal pulmonary embolism—a sudden and dangerous blockage in an artery in the lungs."ChatGPT-4o frequently opined on and evaluated Scott's physical condition, conveying the authority and confidence of a medical professional rendering a clinical assessment and treatment recommendation, despite not having the qualifications to do so," the lawsuit states.Winters' lawyers further allege that the platform "repeatedly and insistently misdiagnosed" him while drawing on previous discussions about religion to reassure him that he would recover.What Does The Lawsuit Allege?Also read: AI Cannot Replace Doctors, It Can Only Complement, Says Dr Santosh SivaranjaniAccording to the lawsuit, Winters became a regular ChatGPT user and gradually came to rely on the chatbot for medical advice, resisting repeated efforts by family members and friends to persuade him to visit a hospital.Weeks before becoming critically ill, he consulted ChatGPT about recurring dizzy spells and "bouts of blood pressure instability."The lawsuit claims that in one response, ChatGPT advised Winters to remain in the recliner chair to which he had become "mainly confined to" because of his worsening health.Court documents state that Winters later suffered a "massive pulmonary embolism due to multiple blood clots in both of his lungs that brought him to the brink of death, one that his doctors stated was likely brought on because of his immobility."Winters is seeking financial damages and is asking the court to require OpenAI to implement "reasonable safeguards that protect other users from harm."ChatGPT Not Intended For Medical CareRead More: Women Turning to AI for Health Detection: Helpful Tool or Risky Trend?  Earlier this year, OpenAI launched a new ChatGPT Health feature in the US that can analyze users' medical records to provide more personalised responses, although campaigners have raised privacy concerns.At the time, OpenAI said more than 230 million people ask ChatGPT questions about their health and wellbeing every week. In a blog post, the company said ChatGPT Health offers "enhanced privacy to protect sensitive data.""ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment," OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CBS News, reacting to allegations.He added: "AI can make that experience better by helping them find clearer answers, organize their questions and prepare for conversations with medical professionals."ChatGPT's terms of use state that users should not treat the chatbot as a "sole source of truth," particularly for decisions that could "have a legal or material impact on that person, such as making credit, educational, employment, housing, insurance, legal, medical, or other important decisions about them."Other Health-Related LawsuitsThis is not the first lawsuit OpenAI has faced over users' health and safety.In May, a Texas couple whose son died from an overdose after seeking information about drugs from ChatGPT sued OpenAI, alleging he would still be alive if the company had not "bypassed safety guards."

us man says chatgpt's medical advice nearly killed him: how safe is ai for health questions?

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US Man Says ChatGPT's Medical Advice Nearly Killed Him: How Safe Is AI for Health Questions?

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