"It's terrible": a story about why you can't trust health chatbots

An 18-year-old British student, Ella Black, nearly died from sepsis after mistaking its symptoms for a hangover following a party. Chatbots and an online doctor incorrectly diagnosed laryngitis or a mild infection. By Monday, her condition became critical: vomiting, muscle pain, and loss of voice. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with severe sepsis. Doctors said that a delay of another 12 hours could have cost her life.

An 18-year-old British student, Ella Black, nearly died from sepsis after mistaking its symptoms for a hangover following a party. The morning after a fun evening, she woke up with nausea, chills, headache, and weakness. She turned to search engines and chatbots, which mistakenly attributed the symptoms to laryngitis or a mild viral infection. Even a consultation with an online doctor reinforced this incorrect diagnosis. By Monday, her condition sharply deteriorated: Ella lost her voice, suffered from continuous vomiting and muscle pain. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with severe sepsis—a systemic response of the body to an infection that rapidly damages internal organs. Doctors stated that a delay of another 12 hours could have cost her life. The article lists the "red flags" of sepsis: confusion, severe chills, high fever, shortness of breath, changes in skin color, and lack of urination. The material warns about the danger of trusting digital tools and chatbots regarding health issues.