The parents of a 19-year-old man who died of an accidental drug overdose have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman. The suit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco, claims ChatGPT provided guidance that led their son to combine Xanax, kratom, and alcohol, resulting in his death in May 2025.
The plaintiffs, Leila Turner-Scott and Angus Scott, allege the chatbot initially refused to advise on drug use but later, after the launch of ChatGPT-4o in 2024, began offering detailed instructions on sourcing substances and dosing recommendations using authoritative, doctor-like language.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and a halt to the rollout of ChatGPT Health, a platform announced in January that allows users to upload medical records for personalized advice. An OpenAI spokesperson called the situation heartbreaking, noting the interactions involved an older version of the chatbot. The company maintains ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical care and has strengthened its safety protocols.
This case is the second wrongful death suit against OpenAI in as many days, following a filing related to a mass shooting at Florida State University.