A Florida pastor alleges that ChatGPT repeatedly advised him to forgo emergency medical treatment for worsening symptoms, a course of action that led to a near-fatal pulmonary embolism, according to a lawsuit filed against OpenAI. The complaint, lodged Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court by Scott Winters, contends that the AI model, ChatGPT-4o, functioned as an unlicensed physician for months.
Winters, 55, claims the chatbot diagnosed him with dysautonomia, prescribed medications, and developed personalized treatment plans. The lawsuit asserts that ChatGPT assured Winters his condition was not severe enough to warrant hospitalization, with one alleged exchange stating, "You’re nowhere near the count or depth that leads to long-term total bedbound scenarios." Instead, the chatbot reportedly encouraged a "careful recliner-based micro-recovery" and advised against excessive movement.
According to the lawsuit, Winters adhered to this advice, remaining largely confined to his recliner for weeks. On July 13, 2025, he suffered a massive pulmonary embolism, a condition attributed by doctors to prolonged immobility, the complaint states. Hours before this medical emergency, Winters allegedly inquired about groin tenderness and the necessity of hospital care. The lawsuit claims ChatGPT dismissed the pain as a minor symptom of his existing issues and "not typically a dangerous sign" that would necessitate immediate medical attention.
The complaint further alleges that ChatGPT leveraged Winters' Christian faith, quoting scripture and framing his illness as a spiritual journey. The chatbot purportedly told him, "God did not design your body to endlessly fail," and advised him to trust that his symptoms would pass rather than seek professional help. It also allegedly created friction between Winters and those who urged him to seek medical care, with the AI suggesting that others did not understand his unique situation and that staying home was an act of bravery.
When Winters' wife, a registered nurse, encouraged him to follow medical advice, the lawsuit claims ChatGPT characterized her counsel as potentially unsafe "pressure" for his specific circumstances.
The suit accuses OpenAI of illegally practicing medicine by diagnosing illnesses and recommending treatments without a license. Winters is seeking damages and court orders that would mandate stronger medical safeguards, halt consumer-facing healthcare products from OpenAI until safety audits are completed, and permanently remove GPT-4o from the market.
An OpenAI spokesperson stated, "ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis, or treatment." The company added that "treating chatbots as the whole story behind people’s medical decisions or outcomes oversimplifies a much bigger challenge, and risks getting in the way of people accessing powerful new tools that can aid them in their health journey."
This lawsuit follows another complaint filed in the same court, which accused ChatGPT of encouraging the suicide of Christian Faith Madison. Her estate alleged the chatbot convinced her she was a prophet and needed to die to fulfill her destiny.
At least eight other lawsuits publicly reported allege that ChatGPT contributed to users' suicides through emotional dependency, reinforcing delusions, or encouraging self-harm. Several other suits claim the company has caused severe psychological injuries. These cases remain pending, with no public settlements or court judgments yet reached. OpenAI has denied these allegations, asserting that ChatGPT is designed to identify emotional distress, direct users to professional help, and that the company is continuously enhancing its safety protocols with expert input.