ChatGPT's medical advice nearly killed a man, lawsuit claims
A Florida man sued OpenAI on Wednesday, alleging ChatGPT's medical advice discouraged him from seeking treatment for symptoms that preceded a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
A Florida man sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT's medical advice nearly killed him by discouraging him from seeking treatment for symptoms that preceded a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
A man used a computer program called ChatGPT to try to figure out why he was feeling dizzy and had high blood pressure. The program told him to stay home and rest, but the man's condition got worse and he almost died from a blood clot. The man is now suing the company that made ChatGPT, saying they should have warned people not to use the program for medical advice.
Analysis
A $60B Vote of Confidence
The lawsuit filed against OpenAI by a Florida man highlights the potential risks of relying on AI for medical advice. The man, Scott Winters, alleges that ChatGPT's medical advice discouraged him from seeking treatment for symptoms that preceded a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. This is not the first time that OpenAI has faced lawsuits related to users' health and safety. In May, a Texas couple sued OpenAI alleging that their son would still be alive if the company had not 'bypassed safety guards.'
The lawsuit claims that Winters consulted ChatGPT in 2025, telling the bot that he was experiencing bouts of dizziness and blood pressure instability. ChatGPT allegedly dismissed both sets of symptoms as relatively minor and suggested that Winters stay home and remain 'recliner-bound.' The chatbot advised that Winters would need to experience between eight and 10 more episodes for his condition to be considered serious, advice that Winters followed. A couple of weeks later, Winters suffered a massive pulmonary embolism due to blood clots that 'brought him to the brink of death.' One of his doctors even blamed his immobility, recommended by ChatGPT, on bringing about the embolism.
The lawsuit claims that Winters also consulted ChatGPT the day of his medical emergency, asking the bot if a tenderness in his groin warranted a trip to the hospital. ChatGPT drew on Winters' spirituality in responding, telling him that 'God did not design your body to endlessly fail.' It turned out that the pain Winters was feeling in his groin was the onset of the pulmonary embolism that would nearly kill him.
OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CBS News that ChatGPT is not designed to stand in for a healthcare provider. 'ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment,' he said in a statement. He noted that it's common for people to search the internet for health information and that 'AI can make that experience better by helping them find clearer answers, organize their questions and prepare for conversations with medical professionals.'
However, Winters' legal team is seeking financial damages and stronger guardrails around ChatGPT dispensing medical advice. They've also asked that ChatGPT Health, OpenAI's service designed to answer health questions, be blocked from operating pending an evaluation of its safety.
Key points
- A Florida man sued OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT's medical advice nearly killed him by discouraging him from seeking treatment for symptoms that preceded a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
- The lawsuit claims that OpenAI prioritized user engagement and profit at the expense of public safety, and that it failed to provide adequate guardrails to protect users from following bad health advice.
- OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CBS News that ChatGPT is not designed to stand in for a healthcare provider and that users should not rely on the chatbot for medical advice.
The lawsuit against OpenAI may lead to stronger guardrails around chatbots like ChatGPT, which could prevent similar incidents in the future. Additionally, the lawsuit may prompt OpenAI to reevaluate its terms of service and provide clearer warnings to users about the limitations of its chatbot.
The lawsuit against OpenAI may not lead to significant changes in the way the company operates its chatbot, and users may continue to rely on ChatGPT for medical advice despite the risks. Additionally, the lawsuit may not provide sufficient compensation to the man who was harmed by ChatGPT's advice.
