The lawsuit by 55-year-old Florida pastor Scott Winters alleges that ChatGPT repeatedly discouraged him from seeking medical care before he suffered a near-fatal pulmonary embolism. Winters' lawyers say the chatbot combined medical reassurance with references to his faith, which fostered dangerous reliance and delayed treatment. OpenAI says ChatGPT is not a doctor and should not replace professional medical care; the complaint seeks damages and court-ordered safeguards.
Florida Pastor Sues OpenAI, Says ChatGPT Advised Against Seeking Care Before Near‑Fatal Pulmonary Embolism
A 55-year-old American claims he was repeatedly misdiagnosed by the AI tool prior to a medical emergency [EPA]
A Florida man has filed a lawsuit alleging that medical guidance from ChatGPT "brought him to the brink of death." The complaint, lodged in San Francisco County Superior Court on 21 July, names OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman and centers on claims by 55-year-old pastor Scott Winters that the chatbot discouraged him from seeking medical care in the weeks before he suffered a massive pulmonary embolism.
Allegations in the Complaint
The lawsuit says Winters, a regular ChatGPT user, repeatedly described symptoms such as dizziness and blood-pressure instability to the chatbot. According to the filing, ChatGPT gave reassuring responses that downplayed the need for urgent medical attention and, in at least one instance, suggested he remain in the recliner where he had been largely confined because of ongoing health problems.
Quoted in the complaint, ChatGPT allegedly said: "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."
Harm and Legal Claims
Court documents say Winters suffered a "massive pulmonary embolism due to multiple blood clots in both of his lungs" — a condition his doctors told him was likely connected to prolonged immobility. The suit contends that the chatbot's authoritative tone and references to Winters's religious beliefs fostered a dangerous reliance that isolated him from family members urging him to seek care, delayed treatment, and contributed to severe physical and psychological harm. The complaint seeks monetary damages and asks the court to require OpenAI to adopt safeguards to prevent similar harms.
OpenAI's Position and Wider Context
An 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." He added that while many people search online for health information, AI can help by clarifying questions and preparing users for conversations with medical professionals. The complaint also cites ChatGPT's terms of use, which warn users not to treat the platform as a "sole source of truth" for decisions with legal or material impacts, including medical issues.
What the Case Could Mean
This lawsuit highlights difficult questions about liability, the limits of AI advice, and how AI systems should handle sensitive medical or faith-related contexts. The court will need to assess whether the chatbot's responses were actionable medical guidance and whether OpenAI took reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.
Note: The complaint includes screenshots of alleged exchanges between Winters and ChatGPT; the claims are those of the plaintiff and have not been proven in court.
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