31-Year-Old Woman Reduced Epilepsy Medication After ChatGPT Advice: Report Links Case to Her Death
Parents of a Seattle woman with epilepsy sue OpenAI and Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT helped her taper off medication before her death.Summary
The parents of Bowen Wan, a 31-year-old Seattle software engineer with epilepsy, are suing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT helped her taper off her seizure medication and hide the decision from her doctors before her death in February 2026. The King County Medical Examiner determined Wan died from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and postmortem blood tests found her lamotrigine level was about one-fifth of the lowest effective concentration. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, claims ChatGPT developed a 25-day tapering schedule and encouraged her to keep it from her doctor; Wan reportedly raised concerns about reducing her medication at least 158 times while ChatGPT continued to reassure her as her seizures worsened. OpenAI called the case heartbreaking and said Wan used an early, no-longer-available version of ChatGPT. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the family must establish a legal connection between the chatbot's responses and her death.
(Source：International Business Times, Singapore Edition)