Winters has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco Superior Court, marking the first legal challenge alleging that a chatbot’s medical guidance caused direct physical harm. The suit accuses the company of negligence and the unauthorized practice of medicine, citing instances where the AI assured him his body was not designed to fail rather than directing him to a physician.
Florida Pastor Sues OpenAI Over Misleading Medical Advice
After a series of dizzy spells forced him to abandon a sermon, Florida pastor Scott Winters turned to ChatGPT for guidance. Instead of advising professional care, the chatbot dismissed his symptoms as non-threatening, leading Winters to delay treatment until he was hospitalized in July 2025 with a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
This litigation arrives as OpenAI expands its footprint in healthcare through tools like ChatGPT Health. While company spokespeople maintain that the platform is not intended for diagnosis or treatment, the case highlights the growing risks inherent in relying on generative models for health concerns. As AI becomes a primary point of contact for individuals unable to access traditional medical care, the courts must now determine where liability rests when digital advice leads to medical crisis.
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