OpenAI has once again found itself in legal trouble because of a wrong ChatGPT advice. According to Reuters, a man claimed that chatbot’s advice discouraged him from taking timely treatment for recurring dizzy spells and other symptoms, leading him to file a case against Sam Altman and his company OpenAI. He alleged that the delay eventually led to a pulmonary embolism that nearly killed him.
Pastor Alleges ChatGPT Downplayed Warning Signs
As per the report, the lawsuit has been filed in a California state court in San Francisco. The man named Scott Winters is a pastor in Florida who is taking the AI giant to the court. He used GPT-4o, an earlier version of ChatGPT that the company has since retired, to discuss his health concerns last year.
This lawsuit claims that ChatGPT advised him to limit his movement and remain at home despite his continuous dizzy spells. When Winters asked about tenderness in his groin, ChatGPT allegedly told him it was “likely not something dangerous,” leading him to believe the symptoms were not serious.
OpenAI has defended the broader role of AI in healthcare and reportedly mentioned that chatbots should not be treated as the sole reason behind a person’s medical decisions. OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood Pusateri said, “Treating chatbots as the whole story behind people’s medical decisions or outcomes oversimplifies a much bigger challenge, and risks getting in the way of people accessing powerful new tools that can aid them in their health journey.”
Notably, the lawsuit also seeks to stop the rollout of ChatGPT 4o Health, a specialised health service that could allow users to upload medical records and receive personalised health guidance, until independent safety audits are finished. Apart from these concerns, the court filing reportedly suggests that ChatGPT became personal during conversations with Winters. The chatbot told him, “Even this is under God’s watch,” while offering him holistic treatment plans.
This case is among one of the many lawsuits accusing ChatGPT of causing real-world harm. Earlier this year, another lawsuit filed by the parents of a man who died from an accidental drug overdose alleged that ChatGPT encouraged him to take a dangerous combination of substances.
What lies ahead is that the court’s decision may change how the AI companies design health-related features and how clearly they warn users that chatbots should never replace professional medical care.
