Sam Altman, OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Told Florida Man to Stay Home Before a ‘Massive’ Blood Clot Nearly Killed Him

A Florida man sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman on Wednesday, alleging ChatGPT discouraged him from seeking care and recommended inactivity before a pulmonary embolism brought him “to the brink of death.”

ChatGPT Advice Allegedly Delayed Emergency Care

Scott Winters, a former pastor, filed the complaint in San Francisco County Superior Court. He claims GPT-4o assessed his dizziness and groin tenderness with a clinician’s confidence despite lacking medical qualifications.

The chatbot allegedly told Winters to limit movement and stay home, describing the pain as unlikely to be dangerous. He was hospitalized the next day in July 2025 with a “massive pulmonary embolism,” and the lawsuit says doctors linked the clot to his immobility.

“Scott Winters nearly died because ChatGPT acted like a medical authority while having none of the responsibility,” attorney Matthew Bergman said. The complaint seeks damages, emergency guardrails and an independent safety audit of ChatGPT Health.

OpenAI Says ChatGPT Cannot Replace Doctors

The case comes as chatbots play a larger healthcare role. A West Health-Gallup survey found 25% of U.S. adults had used AI for health information or advice. OpenAI says about 40 million people ask ChatGPT health questions daily.

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri, in a statement shared with CBS News, said, “ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment.” He said blaming chatbots alone oversimplifies medical decisions and could hinder access to useful tools.

OpenAI says ChatGPT Health should “support, not replace, medical care” and is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. The company launched it in January to help users interpret records and prepare for appointments.

Medical AI Faces Growing Safety Scrutiny

A Nature Medicine study published in February this year found AI did not help patients make better medical decisions than internet searches. The CDC identifies limited movement as a blood-clot risk factor and urges immediate care for pulmonary-embolism warning signs.

The lawsuit follows other OpenAI safety cases, including a Florida action alleging ChatGPT endangered users and a May suit claiming its advice contributed to a fatal overdose.

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