Florida pastor says ChatGPT almost killed him; asked him to ignore 'dangerous symptoms’
A Florida pastor has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT provided dangerous medical advice that led him to ignore symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. The complaint claims the AI acted as an unlicensed physician by interpreting medical records and discouraging hospital visits.
Why it matters
This case raises critical questions regarding the liability of AI developers when their tools provide health-related advice that results in physical harm.
ChatGPT is at the centre of a new lawsuit filed against its developer OpenAI by a Florida pastor. The latest lawsuit alleges that the AI chatbot repeatedly advised him to ignore worsening medical symptoms before he suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism (lung artery blockage). According to the complaint, ChatGPT allegedly drew on his Christian faith during their conversations, telling him, “God did not design your body to endlessly fail,” while encouraging him to trust that his symptoms would improve rather than seek emergency medical care.According to a report by the New York Post, the lawsuit, which was filed in San Francisco Superior Court by 55-year-old pastor Scott Winters, claims ChatGPT-4o spent months acting as an unlicensed physician by diagnosing his condition, recommending medications and treatment plans, and repeatedly assuring him that hospitalisation was unnecessary.
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