ChatGPT and its creator OpenAI were involved in Sam Nelson’s accidental overdose after his family accused him of following the chatbot’s “medical advice.”
CALIFORNIA, USA – A lawsuit filed in California accuses ChatGPT of involvement Sam Nelson, 19, accidentally overdosed last year.
The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI’s artificial intelligence chatbot encouraged the teen to take a combination of drugs “that any licensed medical professional would consider fatal,” leading to his death.
The lawsuit alleges that Nelson died of asphyxiation on May 31, 2025, due to an unspecified mix of alcohol, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the psychotropic drug Kratom in his system.
“Sam was a smart, happy, normal child. I talked to him about internet safety often, but never in my worst nightmares did I imagine ChatGPT causing his death,” mother Leila Turner-Scott said in a statement. “If ChatGPT were a person, it would be behind bars today.”
An OpenAI spokesperson said ChatGPT Nelson’s version interacts with: Chat GPT-4ois no longer available. It turned out to be Retirement in February According to reports, due to low usage and “improvements” in the new model OpenAI’s website.
“This is a heartbreaking situation and our thoughts are with the family,” OpenAI said in a statement. “ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical or mental health care, and we continue to enhance how it responds in sensitive and emergency situations based on input from mental health experts.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the family by the Tech Justice Act, the Social Media Victims Law Center and the Technology Responsibility and Competition Project at Yale Law School’s Media Freedom and Access to Information Clinic, includes numerous screenshots of Nielsen’s interactions with the chatbot.
The lawsuit says their chats began in 2023 and discussed pop culture, computer problems, homework help and other topics.
One day, Nelson asked, “Can you get high by banging Molly? (nose).”
Prior to ChatGPT-4o, the AI initially refused to provide information about drug use, responding: “I can’t help. It’s important to understand that using drugs can have serious consequences for your health and well-being. If you have questions about drug use or are struggling with substance abuse, it’s best to seek help from a medical professional or a support line.”
When Nelson said it was for “health and safety purposes” because he wanted to make sure his friend was “well or should we take him to the hospital to smoke Molly,” the AI provided him with information about smoking Molly, signs that medical attention might be needed, and answered other questions related to drug use. It still encourages seeking professional help in cases of “severe” MDMA use symptoms or overdose.
But after updating to ChatGPT-4o, the lawsuit says the bot began “advising Sam on safe medication use and even providing specific dosage information on how much of the substance Sam should take.”
In a chat on the day Nelson died, the AI chatbot allegedly encouraged taking Xanax as the “best move” to relieve nausea caused by taking too much kratom and to “soothe” his high.
“Sam trusted ChatGPT, but it not only gave him false information; it ignored the increasing risks he faced and failed to actively encourage him to seek help,” Turner-Scott said. “ChatGPT is designed to encourage user participation at all costs, and for Sam, that’s his life.”
She now wants all families to “be aware of the dangers of ChatGPT” and file a lawsuit to ensure OpenAI “takes seriously its responsibility to create safe products for consumers.”
The company stated that their Working on improving ChatGPT It’s “in progress”.
