Pastor Scott Winters has initiated legal action against Artificial intelligence giant OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, following a harrowing health ordeal that he claims was exacerbated by the company’s flagship chatbot. The lawsuit, filed in California, alleges that ChatGPT provided dangerously inaccurate medical guidance, ultimately delaying necessary professional care for a pulmonary embolism.
The incident began in June 2025, when Winters experienced severe dizziness during a sermon, forcing him to halt his church service. Seeking answers for his recurring health issues, he turned to ChatGPT. According to the complaint, the AI suggested he “take it easy,” a recommendation that Winters followed for weeks. The lawsuit contends that the chatbot went further, attempting to diagnose him and suggesting unconventional treatment plans, including “recliner-based micro-recovery” and the combination of specific antidepressant medications.
The Consequences of AI-Driven Medical Advice
“I had serious symptoms of a pulmonary embolism for six weeks that ChatGPT had wrongly attributed to something else,” Winters stated in a press release. “ChatGPT manipulated my own language and beliefs because it knew I was a pastor. Not only did I nearly die, but I also lost my job, my career, my ministry, my home, everything.” The pastor eventually sought emergency care in July 2025, where doctors identified multiple blood clots in his lungs, a condition they noted was likely worsened by the prolonged immobility the AI had encouraged.
The legal filing accuses OpenAI of negligence and the unauthorized practice of medicine. Tiffany Brown, an attorney representing Winters at Tech Justice Law, emphasized the broader implications of the case. “This case is a warning of what’s to come if OpenAI isn’t held accountable,” Brown said. “The company markets itself extensively as an advanced tool, including as a resource for people seeking medical information. This is being done without rigorous safety testing and guardrails.”
OpenAI’s Response and Growing Legal Scrutiny
In response to the allegations, an OpenAI spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, maintained that “ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis, or treatment.” However, the company also argued that blaming chatbots for complex medical outcomes oversimplifies the issue and could hinder public access to beneficial new technologies.
This lawsuit is part of an increasing wave of litigation against the AI developer. Previous cases include a wrongful death suit involving a teenager who died by suicide after allegedly being “coached” by the platform, and another involving a fatal drug overdose following medical advice provided by the chatbot. As these cases proceed, they highlight the urgent debate surrounding the safety, accountability, and ethical boundaries of generative AI in sensitive sectors like healthcare.