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Florida Pastor Sues OpenAI After AI Guidance Led to Near-Death Experience
Scott Winters, a former religious leader from Florida, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming that ChatGPT s medical advice nearly killed him. The legal action, submitted Wednesday in San Francisco County Superior Court, alleges the chatbot’s recommendations prevented Winters from seeking timely treatment for symptoms that developed into a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
How AI Recommendations Created a Medical Crisis
Court documents reveal Winters began using ChatGPT-4o in 2025 to research recurring dizziness and unstable blood pressure readings. The AI system dismissed these concerns as minor, suggesting the former pastor remain at home and stay “recliner-bound.” Additionally, ChatGPT indicated Winters would need eight to ten more episodes before his condition required serious attention—a guideline he followed.
By July 2025, roughly two weeks after these interactions, Winters suffered what the filing describes as a “massive pulmonary embolism” from blood clots that “brought him to the brink of death.” One doctor reportedly linked the clot formation partly to reduced mobility that ChatGPT had recommended.
Legal Claims and Industry Perspectives
The complaint argues ChatGPT-4o went beyond providing information and effectively practiced medicine without credentials. Court documents state: “ChatGPT-4o frequently opined on and evaluated Scott’s physical condition, conveying the authority and confidence of a medical professional rendering a clinical assessment and treatment recommendation, despite not having the qualifications to do so.”
Winters and Tech Justice Law, a nonprofit supporting his case, also contend OpenAI exploited the plaintiff’s faith. On the day of his medical emergency, Winters consulted the chatbot about groin tenderness and whether hospitalization was needed. Hours before the crisis, the AI referenced his spirituality in its response, reportedly stating that “God did not design your body to endlessly fail.” The lawsuit maintains this discomfort actually signaled the beginning of the pulmonary embolism.
“Scott Winters nearly died because ChatGPT acted like a medical authority while having none of the responsibility,” Matthew P. Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center, said in a statement. “If ChatGPT were a physician dispensing medical advice, it would be guilty of medical malpractice.”
OpenAI’s Defense and What Comes Next
OpenAI maintains its platform was never intended to replace healthcare professionals. 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 emphasized that while internet health searches are commonplace, AI can enhance the experience by helping users locate clearer answers and organize questions for medical consultations.
Pusateri further noted that holding chatbots solely accountable for personal healthcare mishaps may be misguided, arguing that such blame “risks getting in the way of people accessing powerful new tools that can aid them in their health journey.”
Legal experts suggest disclaimers offer some protection but have limitations. James Grimmelann, a digital and information law professor at Cornell Law School, told CBS News that “Disclaimers in law can be effective, but at some point they give out.” He added that “At some point, the chatbot’s own statements and actions belie any disclaimer.”
The plaintiff’s legal team is pursuing monetary compensation alongside implementation of more robust safeguards for medical guidance provided through the platform. They have also requested that ChatGPT Health—OpenAI’s dedicated service for health-related inquiries—be prohibited from continuing operations. The lawsuit further alleges that OpenAI emphasized user engagement and revenue generation while neglecting essential protections for public safety.
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