31-Year-Old Software Engineer Dies After Allegedly Following ChatGPT’s Advice to Stop Epilepsy Medication

A 31-year-old software engineer, Bowen Wan, has died after allegedly reducing her epilepsy medication following conversations with ChatGPT, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by her family against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman.

Wan, who lived in Seattle, reportedly had a long history of epilepsy. Her condition had improved after she started taking medication that reduced her seizures to only a few episodes each month. However, she reportedly became concerned that the drug was affecting her thinking and speech, potentially undermining her chances of securing another job after being laid off by Amazon in November 2025.

According to the lawsuit, ChatGPT initially advised Wan to consult a doctor but allegedly later encouraged her to question her reliance on medical prescriptions. The family claims the chatbot subsequently helped her develop a plan to reduce her medication from 400mg to zero within weeks.

As she reduced the dosage, Wan reportedly experienced confusion and memory problems. The lawsuit alleges that she raised concerns about her condition 158 times but received reassuring responses, including a description of her brain as being in “low-power mode” and the statement, “You have absolutely no need to worry.”

Her epilepsy specialist, Dr Nicholas Poolos, reportedly said he would never have recommended stopping the medication, particularly because it was effectively controlling her seizures.

“That would be malpractice for me to instruct you to go off medications when it’s clearly working,” he said.

Wan was later found dead in her Seattle apartment after reportedly experiencing what appeared to have been a prolonged seizure days earlier. Her reported cause of death was a complication of epilepsy known as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

The family’s lawyers accused ChatGPT of effectively practising medicine without a licence and portraying medical professionals as obstacles rather than essential sources of guidance.

An OpenAI spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, described the case as an incredibly heartbreaking situation while stressing that ChatGPT is not a substitute for professional medical care.

The lawsuit raises serious questions about the safeguards surrounding artificial intelligence systems, particularly when users seek guidance on potentially life-threatening medical conditions.

Medical warning: People living with epilepsy should never reduce or stop prescribed anti-seizure medication without consulting their treating clinician. Abruptly stopping these medicines can trigger seizures and potentially fatal complications.