Scott Winters, a 55-year-old pastor from Florida, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its founder Sam Altman, alleging that medical advice from the ChatGPT chatbot led to a near-fatal pulmonary embolism and severe personal consequences. The suit was filed at the San Francisco County Superior Court on July 21.
Allegations of Misdiagnosis and Religious Manipulation
According to court documents, Winters had been a regular ChatGPT user and turned to the platform for medical guidance as his health declined. He consulted the chatbot about recurring dizzy spells and episodes of blood pressure instability. Winters' lawyers allege that ChatGPT repeatedly misdiagnosed him and used his Christian faith to convince him that seeking medical attention was unnecessary.
The lawsuit claims that the chatbot advised Winters to remain in the recliner chair where he had largely been confined due to his health problems. Doctors later told Winters that his immobility was likely a contributing factor to the multiple blood clots that developed in both his lungs.
Religious Language Reinforced Trust
The lawsuit also alleges that ChatGPT wove religious language into its responses, reinforcing Winters' trust in the tool above the advice of family and friends who urged him to go to hospital. Screenshots included in the filing appear to show ChatGPT telling him: "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."
His legal team argued that ChatGPT's "sycophantic nature and authoritative tone, combined with its manipulation of Scott's religious identity, cultivated in him a dangerous reliance on the tool" and effectively blocked him from making sound decisions about his own health.
Consequences and Legal Demands
Beyond the physical consequences, the lawsuit describes Winters as a "vulnerable" individual whose dependence on the platform contributed to him losing his home and career, with his recovery expected to require years of intensive medical and psychological support. Winters is seeking financial damages and wants the court to order OpenAI to put in place safeguards that would protect other users from similar harm, according to the BBC.
OpenAI's Response
OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CBS News that "ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment." Pusateri added that AI could improve how people search for health information by helping them find clearer answers and prepare better questions for their doctors. OpenAI's own terms of use warn users against treating the platform as a "sole source of truth," particularly when the information involved could affect important personal decisions, including those related to medical care.
