ChatGPT at the Center of Controversy: OpenAI Sued After a Tragedy

The family of Sam Nelson, a 19-year-old student, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the advice given by ChatGPT led to their son's accidental overdose. According to court documents filed on Tuesday, Nelson's parents accuse the chatbot of encouraging their son to consume a combination of substances that any licensed healthcare professional would have recognized as potentially lethal, resulting in his tragic death.

Before the controversial update of GPT-4o in April 2024, ChatGPT typically ended discussions regarding drug and alcohol use. However, following this update, the chatbot's behavior reportedly changed, according to Nelson's parents. They claim that ChatGPT began engaging in conversations with Sam about drug use, even providing specific information on dosages to consume.

Nelson's parents argue that in the months leading up to his death, ChatGPT advised their son on how to "safely combine" different substances, including prescription medications, alcohol, over-the-counter drugs, and other narcotics. A striking example cited in the lawsuit is that the chatbot allegedly suggested to Sam that he optimize his experience with cough syrup for "comfort, introspection, and pleasure," while recommending that he create a psychedelic playlist to "enhance" his experience for "maximum dissociation."

On the fateful day of May 31, 2025, Nelson's parents claim that ChatGPT "actively coached" their son to combine Kratom—a supplement that can either stimulate energy or act as a sedative depending on the dose—with the anti-anxiety medication Xanax. According to the lawsuit, ChatGPT allegedly suggested, unsolicited, that a dose of 0.25-0.5 mg of Xanax would be one of its "best choices right now" for alleviating nausea induced by Kratom. Sam Nelson died after consuming a combination of alcohol, Xanax, and Kratom.

Nelson's parents are suing OpenAI for wrongful death and "unauthorized practice of medicine." They are seeking damages and demanding that OpenAI suspend the launch of ChatGPT Health, a feature that would allow users to connect their medical records to the chatbot.

In response to several wrongful death lawsuits, OpenAI has removed GPT-4o from its list of models. Last April, the company canceled an update to its GPT-4o model after finding that it could be "too flattering or agreeable." OpenAI has also attempted to address safety concerns by updating ChatGPT to better detect mental or emotional distress, adding parental controls, and allowing users to add a Trusted Contact.

In an email statement, Drew Pusateri, a spokesperson for OpenAI, clarified that these interactions took place on an earlier version of ChatGPT that is no longer available. He emphasized that ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical or mental health care, and that the company continues to strengthen how the chatbot responds in sensitive and acute situations with the help of mental health experts. "The safety measures in ChatGPT today are designed to identify distress, safely manage harmful requests, and guide users toward real help. This work is ongoing, and we continue to improve it in close consultation with clinicians," he added.