Artificial Intelligence

Don't Blame AI for Your Own Medical Problems

A former pastor suing ChatGPT says the chatbot gave him life-threatening medical advice. But tech-enabled healthcare is not the problem.

Nick Gillespie | 7.23.2026 11:58 AM

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A few weeks ago, I hurt my left elbow while doing my regular weight workout. I've been lifting for over 50 years and have spent a lot of time swimming and playing baseball, tennis, and other sports that are well known for creating nagging joint pains, but this was new to me. I thought about making an appointment with my regular doctor or scouting out nearby physical therapists who are in-network for my insurance—two sensible options that also meant spending an undefined amount of money and, even more off-putting, an undefined amount of time scheduling appointments, juggling calendars, and sitting in waiting rooms.

So I did what an increasing number of us are doing: I consulted ChatGPT.

It responded with a probable diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis, or what's commonly called tennis elbow. After a lengthy interrogation about my symptoms, it recommended a series of exercises to try, a cheap elbow strap to help relieve the pain, and repeatedly told me to contact my primary-care physician or a physical therapist if the problems persisted or got worse. ChatGPT supplied copious photos, diagrams, videos, and links to respected places like Cleveland Clinic and WebMD. Within an hour or so, I had a plan to address my pain and discomfort through a mix of rest, targeted exercise, and over-the-counter pain meds.

I thought about this while reading about Scott Winters, a Florida........

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