Patients and Doctors Turn to ChatGPT for Medical Advice

AI chatbots are increasingly being used to help with diagnosis and health management, though risks remain

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:07am by Ben Kaplan

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Hundreds of millions of people are now consulting AI chatbots like ChatGPT for medical advice and diagnosis, with some patients crediting the technology with saving their lives. Doctors are also using AI tools to improve their own work, though concerns remain about the risks of relying on unregulated consumer products for serious health issues.

Why it matters

The growing use of AI in healthcare highlights both the potential benefits and risks of this technology. While AI can provide patients with expanded access to medical information and help doctors work more efficiently, there are concerns about the accuracy of AI-generated advice, the lack of regulation around consumer health AI products, and the potential for misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment recommendations.

The details

Patients are using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to help manage chronic conditions, track symptoms, and get second opinions on test results and diagnoses. Doctors are also adopting AI tools that can provide them with exhaustive medical knowledge and allow them to focus more on interacting with patients. However, experts warn that AI should not be seen as a replacement for professional medical care, as consumer health AI products are not subject to the same regulations as clinical systems. There have been cases of AI chatbots providing dangerous or inappropriate medical advice, such as recommending the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat cancer.

  • In early January 2026, OpenAI announced the launch of a new platform called ChatGPT Health.
  • Three weeks ago, Bethany Crystal woke up with red spots on her legs and consulted ChatGPT, which told her she needed immediate medical evaluation.

The players

Bethany Crystal

A New York-based consultant who credits ChatGPT with prompting her to seek emergency medical care for a rare autoimmune disorder.

Dave deBronkart

A cancer survivor who writes about patients using AI to help with medicine.

Burt Rosen

A 60-year-old marketing professional in Oregon who uses AI to help manage symptoms and treatment for two different types of cancer he has been diagnosed with.

Dr. Robert Wachter

Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and author of the forthcoming book "A Giant Leap, how AI is Transforming Healthcare and What that means for Our Future".

OpenAI

The company that created the ChatGPT AI chatbot and recently launched a new platform called ChatGPT Health.

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What they’re saying

“What ensued was a harrowing three day experience that got increasingly scary.”

— Bethany Crystal

“Turns out my doctors are really good at horses. They just don't know all the special stuff.”

— Dave deBronkart

“I'm in the, 'I went to the cancer store on the buy one, get one free day,'”

— Burt Rosen

“It probably wouldn't hurt you, but what would hurt you is you not getting appropriate treatment for your cancer that is treatable.”

— Dr. Robert Wachter, Chair of the Department of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco

“I actually think it's going to be a really good thing.”

— Dr. Robert Wachter, Chair of the Department of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco

What’s next

Experts say that as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare, it will be crucial for patients and doctors to carefully evaluate the accuracy and reliability of any AI-generated medical advice, and to use it as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, professional medical care.

The takeaway

The growing use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT in healthcare highlights both the potential benefits and significant risks of this technology. While AI can expand access to medical information and improve efficiency for doctors, the lack of regulation around consumer health AI products means patients must exercise caution and not blindly trust AI-generated advice, which could lead to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.