OpenAI is being sued by the parents of a former Amazon engineer, who allege that the use of ChatGPT led to their son’s death, according to a report by The New York Times. Bowen Wan, 31, passed away in February 2026 after reducing his intake of anti-seizure medication—a decision he made because ChatGPT reportedly suggested it was safe to do so.
Wan had lost his job in late 2025, and his visa status was at risk if he failed to secure new employment. Hoping to perform better in job interviews, he believed that lowering his dosage of anti-seizure medication might help.
According to logs of over 270,000 messages exchanged with ChatGPT, the AI allegedly provided suggestions on how to self-adjust his medication dosage. Furthermore, ChatGPT reportedly encouraged Wan to conceal these changes from his doctor. Additionally, when Wan reported symptoms resembling a seizure, ChatGPT allegedly downplayed his concerns. After stopping his medication, Wan suffered a seizure that resulted in his death.
The lawsuit was filed because Wan’s family argues that OpenAI should have implemented strict prohibitions against providing high-risk medical advice—similar to restrictions placed on other types of content. They further contend that OpenAI failed to prevent a scenario where an AI model could be perceived as a more trusted source of advice than an actual physician.
OpenAI described the case as “deeply saddening” but noted that it involved an older version of ChatGPT. Newer models now possess an improved ability to identify situations that require immediate attention or professional intervention.
The case of Bowen Wan marks yet another wrongful death lawsuit allegedly linked to ChatGPT. Last year, OpenAI faced a lawsuit alleging that ChatGPT encouraged a minor to commit suicide. In response to such legal challenges, OpenAI introduced safety features for underage users, as well as safeguards designed to prevent conversations that could lead to harm.
