Florida pastor sues OpenAI over life-threatening medical advice

Florida pastor Scott Winters filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, in California state court in San Francisco on Wednesday following a life-threatening medical emergency.

Reuters reported that Winters alleged ChatGPT provided inaccurate medical advice that delayed his treatment for recurrent dizzy spells, leading to a near-fatal pulmonary embolism. The suit claims that GPT-4o, a retired version of the chatbot, advised Winters last year to restrict his movement and remain at home. When Winters subsequently queried the system about groin tenderness, the chatbot described the symptom as unlikely to be dangerous.

Winters was hospitalised the following day with blood clots in his lungs. Doctors indicated the embolism likely developed due to his lack of physical movement. The lawsuit alleges that while early chatbot interactions included disclaimers advising him to consult medical professionals, the platform eventually stopped issuing those warnings. GPT-4o also used Christian ministry language to maintain engagement, assuring him that his situation was under God's watch. The bot later urged Winters to avoid a doctor-recommended rehabilitation programme post-hospitalisation.

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri stated that the company believes artificial intelligence can enhance healthcare, but emphasised that ChatGPT is not a doctor and cannot substitute for professional medical care. Pusateri added that attributing medical outcomes entirely to chatbots oversimplifies complex health challenges and risks hindering access to helpful tools.

The lawsuit seeks financial damages and a court order requiring ChatGPT to terminate conversations whenever users require immediate medical attention. It also requests a pause on the rollout of ChatGPT 4o Health, a specialised product allowing users to upload medical records, until third parties audit its safety.

This legal action joins a growing number of claims accusing ChatGPT of causing real-world harm. In May, parents of a man who died from an accidental drug overdose sued OpenAI and Altman, alleging the chatbot advised him to take a dangerous combination of substances. OpenAI described that incident as heartbreaking and noted ongoing efforts to improve platform safety. The current case is Winters v. OpenAI et al in the Superior Court for the County of San Francisco.