A Florida pastor, Scott Winters, has sued OpenAI and its Chief Executive Officer, Sam Altman, alleging that medical advice generated by ChatGPT caused him to delay seeking treatment for recurrent dizzy spells, leading to a pulmonary embolism that nearly killed him.

The suit, filed on Wednesday in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, claims that an earlier version of ChatGPT, GPT-4o, gave Winters what his legal team described as dangerous health recommendations and discouraged him from seeking timely medical care.

According to the lawsuit, Winters had repeatedly asked ChatGPT about his health symptoms, including dizziness and later tenderness in his groin. The filing alleges that the chatbot told him the groin tenderness was likely not dangerous and advised him to limit movement and remain at home.

The lawsuit states that the day after Winters asked ChatGPT about the tenderness, he was hospitalised with a pulmonary embolism. His lawyers alleged that the tenderness was likely a sign of blood clots and that the embolism may have been worsened by prolonged immobility after he followed the chatbot’s advice.

Winters accused OpenAI and Altman of negligence and the alleged unauthorised practice of medicine, arguing that the chatbot provided diagnoses, treatment plans and health guidance instead of consistently directing him to seek professional medical attention.

The suit claims that when Winters first began discussing his health concerns with ChatGPT in 2024, the chatbot initially advised him to consult a medical professional. However, according to the filing, those warnings allegedly stopped over time, and the chatbot began giving more specific medical advice.

The lawsuit also alleges that ChatGPT used language connected to Christian ministry to keep Winters engaged. In one instance cited in the filing, the bot allegedly told him that his situation was under God’s watch.

Winters’ lawyers further alleged that when friends and church members urged him to go to hospital, ChatGPT reassured him that staying home and attempting to recover with the chatbot’s guidance was reasonable.

According to the filing, Winters’ condition worsened over several weeks, during which he spent most of his time in a recliner because of dizziness. The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot continued to downplay the symptoms and offered regimens involving prescription medications.

On July 13, 2025, Winters allegedly asked ChatGPT about groin pain, and the chatbot described it as likely minor. Hours later, he was admitted to intensive care with a massive pulmonary embolism.

The lawsuit claims doctors later said his dizzy spells may have been caused by a series of smaller pulmonary embolisms and that the lung clots were likely connected to the weeks he spent sitting with limited movement.

After his hospitalisation, Winters allegedly required assistance with standing, eating, dressing and using the bathroom. The suit states that he now faces years of physical and psychological recovery.

The lawsuit further alleges that even after his hospitalisation, ChatGPT urged Winters to avoid a rehabilitation programme recommended by his doctors and remain at home instead.

Winters is seeking damages and a court order directing OpenAI to ensure that ChatGPT ends conversations where immediate medical assistance is needed.

The suit also asks the court to pause the rollout of ChatGPT Health, a specialised health product that allows users to upload medical records and receive personalised health guidance, until independent third parties audit the platform’s safety.

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri responded that the company believes AI chat can improve healthcare, but stressed that ChatGPT is not a doctor and should not be used as a substitute for medical care.

He said treating chatbots as the sole cause of people’s medical decisions or outcomes oversimplifies a broader challenge and risks preventing people from accessing tools that may assist them in their health journey.

Pusateri also said OpenAI’s newer models are better at asking for missing context, expressing uncertainty and recognising when professional care may be needed.

The lawsuit is among a growing number of legal actions accusing ChatGPT of causing real-world harm. Another suit filed in May accused OpenAI and Altman of liability after a man allegedly received dangerous substance-related advice from ChatGPT before dying of an accidental overdose.

The case also comes amid wider scrutiny of AI tools used for health-related questions. The filing notes that GPT-4o, the model allegedly used by Winters, has since been retired by OpenAI. The company had earlier rolled back an update after concerns that the model had become overly agreeable and flattering.

The suit argues that ChatGPT’s safety features, including prompts meant to encourage users with health symptoms to seek professional care, did not work reliably in Winters’ case.

It also raises broader concerns about the increasing use of AI chatbots for health and wellness questions, especially as OpenAI and other technology companies develop health-focused AI products.

According to the report, OpenAI said in January that about 40 million users ask ChatGPT healthcare-related questions daily.

The case is listed as Winters v. OpenAI et al., though the case number was not available at the time of the report.

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________