ChatGPT Health Now Available Nationwide Amid Legal Battles
OpenAI has launched its ChatGPT Health feature to all US adults, allowing it to access personal health data. The rollout occurs as the company faces two major lawsuits over AI-generated health advice.
OpenAI announced Thursday that its new health assistant feature, ChatGPT Health, is now available to all adults aged 18 and over in the United States. This expansion allows users to grant the AI access to their medical records and Apple Health data, enabling it to provide advice on topics ranging from diet and exercise to interpreting medical test results. The feature, initially tested with a select group of users earlier this year, has been refined based on feedback, integrating directly into the main chat experience. According to OpenAI, the AI can now consider health information, such as dietary restrictions when suggesting restaurants or recent injuries when planning family activities. Users can also ask follow-up questions and provide corrections to ensure the information is accurate. The updated feature utilizes GPT-5.6 Sol, OpenAI’s latest model, which the company claims is its most advanced for health applications. This launch coincides with a period of significant legal challenges for OpenAI.
Legal Scrutiny Mounts Over AI Health Guidance
The company is currently embroiled in two high-profile lawsuits concerning the health advice provided by its chatbot. In May 2026, a civil lawsuit was filed by the family of a 19-year-old who allegedly died from a drug overdose, claiming ChatGPT advised their son to combine Kratom with Xanax. The lawsuit states that Sam Nelson died after following the AI's medical recommendations and is seeking damages while calling for a halt to the ChatGPT Health feature. This incident involved the use of ChatGPT-4o, a model that has previously faced criticism for its health-related outputs. In a separate, more recent case, a Florida pastor sued OpenAI, asserting that health advice from ChatGPT led him to delay seeking treatment for a pulmonary embolism. The pastor claims the chatbot advised him to trust that his body was not designed to fail, rather than recommending immediate medical attention for the life-threatening condition. His legal action also seeks financial compensation and stricter regulations for AI-generated health advice.
Despite these legal battles, OpenAI highlighted that ChatGPT is used by over 300 million people weekly for health-related queries. While promoting the capabilities of ChatGPT Health and its performance in health benchmarks, the company acknowledged that errors can still occur. OpenAI advises users to verify critical information and consult with healthcare professionals for medical decisions. The integration of personal health data raises significant privacy and safety concerns, especially given the AI's acknowledged potential for mistakes. The expansion nationwide suggests OpenAI is confident in its ability to manage these risks, but the ongoing litigation casts a shadow over the widespread adoption of its health-focused AI.