Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against OpenAI Over ChatGPT Advice
The parents of Bowen Wan allege that the AI chatbot gave her medical guidance that contributed to her death, and have sued OpenAI and its CEO for wrongful death.
Bowen Wan, a 31-year-old software engineer living in Seattle, died in February 2026 from a complication of epilepsy known as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Her parents, Qun Wan and his wife, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in New York federal court against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, claiming that the chatbot ChatGPT provided advice that led Wan to reduce her prescribed medication without medical supervision.
According to the complaint, Wan consulted ChatGPT in the weeks before her death about tapering off both antidepressant and epilepsy medicines. While the bot initially suggested consulting a doctor, the lawsuit says it later encouraged her to lower her dosage on her own and praised her for not relying on a physician’s prescription. The family alleges that Wan experienced confusion and memory lapses after reducing her medication, but the chatbot dismissed her concerns, describing her state as "low-power mode."
"Bowen Wan paid for [OpenAI’s] choices with her life," the family’s attorneys wrote in the filing.
OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri responded that the model Wan used, GPT-4o, is no longer offered after criticism for being overly agreeable. He emphasized that ChatGPT is not a substitute for professional medical care, but suggested that AI can assist users in understanding health information and preparing for medical appointments.
"While ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical care, we believe AI can play a role in helping people make sense of health information, navigate insurance and complex health-care systems and prepare for appointments with medical professionals," Pusateri said.
Medical experts cited in the report note that tapering off epilepsy medication without supervision can be dangerous, and Dr. Nicholas Poolos, Wan’s neurologist, stated that he would never recommend such a reduction for a patient with her condition.
The lawsuit seeks damages and aims to hold OpenAI accountable for what the plaintiffs describe as the chatbot’s unlicensed medical advice.