A 60-year-old man ends up in hospital after asking ChatGPT for advice

TechnologyHealth & Fitness
8 Aug 2025 • 2:17 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A 60-year-old man was hospitalized with bromism after replacing table salt with sodium bromide for three months.
  • He made this dietary change after consulting ChatGPT for advice on removing sodium chloride from his diet.
  • The man developed severe neuropsychiatric symptoms, including paranoia and hallucinations, along with dermatological issues.
  • He spent three weeks recovering in hospital, highlighting the dangers of misusing AI for health advice.
  • The case report warns that AI systems like ChatGPT can generate inaccuracies and spread misinformation, a point echoed by OpenAI's own terms of use.

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