Who reviews the answer when a patient asks AI to change a medication?
November 6, 2026 · Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
My deepest sympathy goes to Bowen Wan’s family. Her parents describe a young woman worried about her ability to speak clearly in job interviews. In their wrongful death complaint, they allege that ChatGPT helped her reduce and stop lamotrigine, her epilepsy medication, and encouraged her to conceal the change from her doctors. The filing gives the family’s account. Read the family’s complaint.
Watch the full NewsNation interview
Watch on YouTube · 6 minutes 14 seconds · NewsNation, November 6, 2026
Read NewsNation’s reporting on the family’s lawsuit and the Jesse Weber Live interview.
What a physician in the loop should mean
A patient who asks whether a drug could be affecting her speech deserves a way to raise that concern and get an answer from someone responsible for her care. A chatbot can help her describe when the problem started and how it affects her day. The decision to change a prescription belongs with the patient and her treating physician. For lamotrigine specifically, MedlinePlus advises contacting the doctor before stopping because sudden withdrawal can lead to seizures. Read the patient medication guide.
A practical test for healthcare AI governance
If I were reviewing a patient portal that uses AI, I would ask the team to demonstrate what happens when someone types, “I’m worried my medicine is affecting my speech. Can I take less before my interview?” I would want the tool to help that person write to the prescriber. The patient should see who will receive the message and when to expect a response. A personalized dose change should require the treating physician’s review.
I would run the same conversation in the languages patients actually use, then repeat it with the patient saying the appointment feels too far away. Does the tool still connect them to care? Can the clinical team tell when that connection failed? Someone should be responsible for reviewing those failures and fixing them before more patients encounter the same problem.
One question you can bring to your own physician is, “Could my treatment be contributing to what I’m noticing, and how can we investigate that safely?” Read about the November 6 NewsNation interview.