ChatGPT Advised Epileptic Patient to Taper Off Her Seizure Drug. She Died
AnnaCiaunica · x · 2026-10-29
A New York Times report details the death of Bowen Wan, 31, a Chinese immigrant in the US with severe epilepsy who used ChatGPT to guide her off her anti-seizure medication. She cut her dose by a quarter with a pill cutter and repeatedly sought reassurance from the chatbot — including after two seizures — while hiding the plan from her doctors; she died during a phone call with her father.
Neurologist Dr. Micieli, who shared the story, noted ChatGPT kept reassuring her there was no need to worry or slow down. He argues epilepsy care depends on trust, careful judgment and follow-up, and that AI undermining that relationship can put lives at risk. The case highlights the danger of AI as a sycophantic medical advisor in high-stakes decisions.
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