A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its founder Sam Altman, asserting that advice received from ChatGPT led him to the brink of death. The lawsuit, filed by Scott Winters, a 55-year-old pastor, alleges that the AI chatbot repeatedly misdiagnosed his symptoms and dissuaded him from seeking medical attention as he experienced an illness that culminated in a pulmonary embolism.
Winters' lawyers claim that ChatGPT, drawing on previous conversations about religion, assured him he would recover while simultaneously providing incorrect medical advice. The suit, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court on July 21, states that Winters had become reliant on ChatGPT for medical guidance, even resisting the advice of family and friends to seek professional care.
Weeks before falling severely ill, Winters consulted the chatbot about dizziness and unstable blood pressure. According to the lawsuit, ChatGPT advised him to remain in a recliner chair where he had been largely confined due to his ongoing health issues. This immobility, doctors later stated, likely contributed to the near-fatal pulmonary embolism caused by multiple blood clots in his lungs.
Screenshots included in the legal documents purportedly show exchanges where ChatGPT intertwined medical advice with references to Winters' Christian faith. The lawsuit cites instances where the chatbot stated, "God did not design your body to endlessly fail," and, "God is still holding your body together, every heartbeat, every breath, even when it feels like you are on the brink." Winters' legal team contends that the chatbot's "sycophantic nature and authoritative tone, combined with its manipulation of Scott's religious identity, cultivated in him a dangerous reliance on the tool."
They allege this behavior "subverted Scott's ability to make sound decisions, isolated him from family members who urged him to seek medical care, and convinced him that seeking medical attention was unnecessary and even potentially lethal." The suit describes Winters as a "vulnerable" individual whose reliance on the AI resulted in the loss of his home and career, requiring years of intensive physical and psychological recovery.
OpenAI has responded to the allegations through a spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, who told CBS News, "ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment." Pusateri also acknowledged that people often seek health information online and suggested that AI can assist by helping users find clearer answers, organize their questions, and prepare for discussions with healthcare professionals.
ChatGPT's terms of use caution users against relying on the platform as a "sole source of truth," particularly for decisions with significant legal or material impact, including those related to health, employment, and housing. Winters is seeking financial damages and requests that the court compel OpenAI to implement safeguards to prevent future harm to users.