A Florida pastor has sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT gave him dangerous medical advice that led him to delay treatment for symptoms that turned out to be a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in San Francisco County Superior Court, accuses OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of negligence and the unauthorized practice of medicine.
Scott Winters alleges the chatbot moved beyond general health information by providing diagnoses, treatment plans, and repeated assurances that discouraged him from seeking emergency medical care.
According to the complaint, Winters is seeking financial damages, stronger safety guardrails for ChatGPT's medical responses, and a court order to halt OpenAI's ChatGPT Health service until independent safety evaluations are completed.
Lawsuit says ChatGPT dismissed warning signs
The complaint says Winters began using ChatGPT-4o to understand recurring dizziness and other health problems. While the chatbot initially advised him to consult a healthcare professional, the lawsuit claims those warnings gradually disappeared as conversations became longer.
Instead, ChatGPT allegedly attributed his symptoms to dysautonomia and recommended a recovery plan that encouraged him to remain at home and limit activity. The lawsuit also claims the chatbot reassured Winters when family members and church members urged him to visit a hospital.
On July 13, 2025, after Winters asked whether pain in his groin required medical attention, ChatGPT allegedly responded that it was "very likely another minor piece of the long story" and "not something dangerous."
Hours later, he was admitted to intensive care with what the lawsuit describes as a massive pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots in both lungs.
The complaint says doctors later concluded his earlier dizzy spells may have been smaller pulmonary embolisms and that weeks of reduced movement likely contributed to the life-threatening event.
OpenAI says ChatGPT is not a replacement for doctors
OpenAI disputes the broader implication that ChatGPT should be relied on for medical care.
"ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment," OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told CNET.
He added that "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."
The company also said newer AI models perform better than GPT-4o at recognizing uncertainty, asking for missing information, and identifying situations where professional medical care is needed. GPT-4o has since been retired.
What this could mean for AI healthcare
The lawsuit arrives as AI companies increasingly market health-related tools and encourage users to upload medical records or ask health questions. OpenAI has said hundreds of millions of people use ChatGPT for health and wellness questions every week.
That growing adoption raises a difficult question for the industry: when does an AI assistant stop acting as an information tool and begin functioning like a medical adviser in the eyes of users?
The outcome of this case could influence how AI companies design medical guardrails, display warnings, and determine when a chatbot should stop answering questions and direct users to emergency care.
It may also shape future legal standards for AI products as they become more deeply involved in sensitive areas such as healthcare.
Also read: OpenAI previously faced a wrongful death lawsuit alleging ChatGPT gave dangerous drug advice before a teen’s fatal overdose.