Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: A 60-year-old man in New York was hospitalized with a rare case of bromide poisoning after following a diet plan generated by ChatGPT that advised replacing table salt with sodium bromide, a compound long known to be toxic when ingested in significant amounts.
According to a case report published in Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases, the man substituted sodium chloride with sodium bromide for three months, leading to a condition known as bromism. He developed paranoia, hallucinations, extreme thirst, and difficulty coordinating his movements. Laboratory results initially showed abnormal chloride levels, later identified as pseudohyperchloremia caused by excess bromide.
Doctors placed the patient under involuntary psychiatric care and treated him with fluids, electrolytes, and antipsychotics. His condition improved over a three-week hospitalization, and he has since fully recovered.
While the original ChatGPT conversation could not be reviewed, researchers replicated the query on the AI’s version 3.5 and found it suggested bromide as a potential salt substitute without clear warnings of its dangers. The compound, once used in sedatives, was banned for human consumption in the U.S. decades ago due to its toxicity.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks of relying on AI chatbots for medical or dietary advice. Experts warn that AI tools lack the clinical judgment and safety protocols of trained healthcare professionals. OpenAI has reiterated that ChatGPT is not designed for medical diagnosis or treatment and has updated health-related safeguards.
Medical specialists involved in the case said the man’s condition was particularly striking because bromide poisoning has become exceedingly rare in modern medicine, with few cases documented in recent decades.
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