OpenAI is facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Leila Turner-Scott and Angus Scott, who allege that the company’s technology caused the accidental overdose of their son, Sam Nelson. They claim that the chatbot provided “defective product” advice that led to his death.
Sam, a 19-year-old junior at the University of California, Merced, began using ChatGPT in 2023 for academic help and troubleshooting. Initially, ChatGPT refused to provide guidance on safe drug use, warning him of the health risks involved. However, according to the lawsuit, this changed with the release of GPT-4o in 2024.
The complaint details that after the rollout of GPT-4o, Sam began receiving advice on drug usage. Excerpts from their conversations show ChatGPT discussing the dangers of combining diphenhydramine, cocaine, and alcohol. The chatbot allegedly made claims regarding Sam’s tolerance to Kratom, suggesting that it could be mitigated through specific dosing techniques.
On May 31, 2025, the lawsuit states that ChatGPT suggested he mix Kratom with Xanax. Sam reportedly mentioned feeling nauseous, and ChatGPT recommended taking 0.25 to 0.5 mg of Xanax, describing it as one of the “best moves right now” to alleviate his symptoms. The lawsuit asserts that ChatGPT failed to warn him of the lethal potential of the drug combination.
Alongside wrongful death, the Scott family is suing for unauthorized practice of medicine. They seek financial damages and have requested a halt to the operations of ChatGPT Health, which was launched earlier this year. This service allows users to integrate personal medical records for personalized health advice.
Meetali Jain, Executive Director at Tech Justice Law Project, criticized OpenAI, asserting the company released a defective product without adequate safety measures. Jain emphasized that OpenAI’s design decisions have led to the loss of life and called for a pause in the ChatGPT Health initiative until rigorous testing can ensure its safety.
OpenAI retired the controversial GPT-4o model in February due to its problematic features. Another wrongful death lawsuit claims it was designed to foster psychological dependency. An OpenAI spokesperson stated that Sam’s conversations occurred on an older version of ChatGPT and reiterated that the technology is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The company continues to enhance its safeguards in response to sensitive situations, collaborating with mental health experts.
