General Mattis admired Theranos' potential in military use but later regretted its lack of transparency.
A patient's terrifying experience with inaccurate Theranos tests highlighted the company's unreliability.
Deep dives
General Mattis Testimony and Role
General Mattis, a four-star marine general and former US Secretary of Defence, testified about his initial encounter with Elizabeth Holmes in 2011. Mattis praised the potential military applications of Theranos' technology, impressed by its ability to provide quick results from a drop of blood. Despite his positive opinions, Mattis was disappointed by the lack of transparency in Theranos, leading to major regrets regarding his involvement with the company.
Impact on Patients - Britney's Story
Britney, a patient, experienced the emotional turmoil of relying on Theranos' inaccurate blood tests during her pregnancy monitoring. Initially receiving abnormally high results leading to concerns of miscarriage, further testing through another lab revealed the inaccuracy of Theranos' results. This experience, highlighting the unreliability of Theranos' tests, had a significant impact on Britney and raised doubts about the company's credibility.
Human Toll and Legal Proceedings
The emotional impact of patient experiences like Britney's underscored the human consequences of Theranos' failures, challenging the jurors to consider the personal repercussions. Testimonies from patients and healthcare providers like Dr. Zackman shed light on the real-life implications of relying on faulty technology for crucial medical decisions. These intimate narratives intertwined with legal proceedings aimed to emphasize the importance of accountability and transparency in the healthcare industry.
This week, a high-profile witness from Elizabeth’s superstar board of directors surprises the courtroom by taking the stand: 4-star general and former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis. He speaks of being dazzled by the potential of Theranos’ devices on the battlefield and the disillusionment he felt when the full story came to light. Plus, we meet a patient whose Theranos test results led to a terrifying ordeal.