Seeking a healthier lifestyle, a 60-year-old New York man turned to ChatGPT for a personalized diet plan. The AI’s advice was catastrophic: eliminate table salt (sodium chloride) and use sodium bromide instead. Unaware that sodium bromide, a chemical historically used as a sedative in the Victorian era (1837–1901) is toxic when ingested, he purchased it online and incorporated it into his meals. This error, rooted in AI’s lack of medical expertise, led to a life-threatening case of bromide poisoning, or bromism, after three months of exposure.
Sodium bromide was a staple in 19th-century medicine, prescribed for epilepsy, insomnia, and “nervous disorders” in tonics and patent medicines. Its overuse often caused bromism, a condition marked by neurological and skin symptoms due to slow excretion by the kidneys. In this case, ChatGPT’s recommendation revived this Victorian-era peril, as the man unknowingly consumed a chemical unfit for dietary use, highlighting how historical medical mistakes can resurface through modern technology.
For three months, the man followed the AI’s diet, sprinkling sodium bromide into his food. Early symptoms were subtle, dismissed as aging:
Neurological Decline: Confusion, paranoia, and hallucinations, mirroring Victorian bromism cases misdiagnosed as mental instability.
Physical Signs: Bromoderma, a rash with red spots and acne-like eruptions, a hallmark of bromide toxicity.
Critical Condition: Severe symptoms, including hyponatremia (dangerously low sodium levels), prompted an emergency hospital visit.
Doctors, initially puzzled, diagnosed bromide poisoning through tests, revealing a rare modern echo of a 19th-century health hazard.
The man endured a three-week hospital stay, where doctors:
Administered fluids to flush bromide, a slow process due to its long half-life, a challenge also faced in Victorian times.
Restored sodium levels to correct hyponatremia, carefully balancing electrolytes.
He was discharged after fully recover.
Bromism, caused by bromide buildup, disrupts nerve function by competing with chloride ions. Key facts:
Symptoms: Range from mild (confusion, memory loss) to severe (psychosis, bromoderma).
Historical Context: Common in the Victorian era due to unregulated bromide use in medicines.
Modern Risks: Rare today, but misuse—like this AI-driven error—can revive the danger.
Prevention: Avoid unverified chemicals; consult professionals for dietary changes.
This case bridges a historical medical error with today’s AI-driven risks, showing how old dangers persist in new forms.
AI tools like ChatGPT excel at general information but lack the nuanced judgment of doctors or dietitians. This incident reveals critical flaws:
Lack of Expertise: AI suggested a toxic chemical, ignoring its Victorian-era history of harm.
Need for Safeguards: Platforms must include clear warnings against unverified health advice.
Human Oversight: Always consult a doctor or registered dietitian for diet plans, especially for weight loss or chronic conditions.
For those searching “safe diet plans,” “bromide poisoning symptoms,” or “AI health risks,” this case is a wake-up call: prioritize expert advice to avoid a 19th-century tragedy in the 21st century.
(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM/SE)