A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that medical advice provided by ChatGPT caused him to delay seeking professional treatment for symptoms that later developed into a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
According to the lawsuit, Scott Winters, a former pastor from Florida, had been using OpenAI’s GPT-4o chatbot for health-related questions. The complaint alleges that the chatbot advised him to limit his movement and remain at home when he reported recurring dizziness. When Winters later asked about tenderness in his groin, the chatbot allegedly downplayed the symptom and suggested that it was not likely to be dangerous.
The lawsuit claims that Winters followed the advice and delayed seeking medical attention. He was later hospitalised after suffering a serious pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal condition involving a blood clot blocking blood flow in the lungs. The complaint alleges that prolonged inactivity contributed to the development of the condition.
Winters is accusing OpenAI and Altman of negligence and the unauthorised practice of medicine. He is seeking damages and stronger safeguards for AI systems used in health-related conversations. The lawsuit also reportedly seeks an order requiring ChatGPT to end conversations or direct users to immediate medical care when they show signs of a medical emergency.
OpenAI has maintained that ChatGPT is not a substitute for professional medical advice and has emphasised the importance of human oversight in healthcare decisions. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.
The case adds to growing concerns about the risks of relying on artificial intelligence for medical guidance, particularly when users have serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms.
