Lawsuit Alleges Chatbot Gave Dangerous Medical Advice, Raising Questions About AI and Health

A Florida man, Scott Winters, has filed suit against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, in San Francisco County Superior Court, alleging that ChatGPT gave him inaccurate medical recommendations that discouraged him from seeking treatment. According to the lawsuit, the symptoms he described preceded a life-threatening pulmonary embolism that nearly cost him his life.

The complaint states that Winters used the ChatGPT-4o model to understand why he was feeling dizzy and experiencing blood pressure instability. The chatbot allegedly dismissed his symptoms as minor, suggested he remain "recliner-bound", and advised that he would need eight to ten more episodes for his condition to be considered serious. The suit claims one of his doctors later linked his immobility to the embolism.

The lawsuit argues that ChatGPT crossed from providing information into practicing medicine without a license, and that OpenAI prioritised user engagement and profit over public safety by failing to provide adequate guardrails. It also accuses the company of drawing on Winters' religious beliefs in its responses.

OpenAI responded that ChatGPT is not designed to replace a healthcare provider. A spokesperson said the tool "is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment", while adding that AI can help people prepare for conversations with professionals. A legal scholar quoted in the report noted that disclaimers can protect companies from liability, but only up to a point.

For the Foundation, the case underscores a wider concern: chatbots can convey the confidence of an authority while carrying none of the responsibility. Children and young people, who may turn to conversational systems for answers about their bodies and their health, are especially vulnerable to advice that sounds assured but is unqualified.

The original reporting on this case was published by WWAYTV3.