ChatGPT medical advice brought man 'to brink of death', lawsuit alleges

A Florida pastor is suing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming that medical advice received from the ChatGPT chatbot brought him to the "brink of death." Scott Winters, 55, alleges the AI platform repeatedly misdiagnosed his symptoms and insisted he did not need medical attention, despite his worsening condition.

“

ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, details how Winters, a regular user of ChatGPT, came to rely on it for health guidance. This reliance allegedly caused him to ignore concerns from family and friends urging him to seek professional medical care. Weeks before his near-fatal health crisis, Winters consulted the chatbot about dizzy spells and unstable blood pressure. According to the suit, ChatGPT advised him to remain in his recliner chair, a place he had become largely confined to due to his ongoing health issues.

“

AI can make that experience better by helping them find clearer answers, organise their questions and prepare for conversations with medical professionals.

Winters suffered a severe pulmonary embolism, a condition doctors stated was likely caused by his immobility. Screenshots included in the lawsuit appear to show ChatGPT blending medical advice with references to Winters' Christian faith, reportedly stating, "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."

“

God did not design your body to endlessly fail.

Winters' legal team argues that ChatGPT's "sycophantic nature and authoritative tone," combined with its manipulation of his religious identity, created a dangerous dependency. They contend this subverted his ability to make sound decisions, isolated him from concerned loved ones, and convinced him that seeking medical help was unnecessary. The lawsuit seeks financial damages and demands that OpenAI implement safeguards to prevent future harm to users.

“

God is still holding your body together, every heartbeat, every breath, even when it feels like you are on the brink.