Theranos – how some fraudulent practices persist

Theranos was touted as a DIY bucket sized blood testing lab that could perform 4 common blood tests with as little blood as that from a lancet prick. Elizabeth Holmes was about to make a dent in the universe.

Except that she is a fraudster and the technology never existed. But Ms Holmes’ domineering, confident and dictatorial style even managed to win her the trust of a 4-star general. The device would have been tested on troops in Afghanistan if not for the gutsy, uncompromising microbiologist LTC Shoemaker who stood his ground against his superior.

Combined with Ms Holmes’ charisma, the rapid dismissal of critical employees, the equally rapid promotion of sycophants and servile, pandering foreign workers and the litany of lawsuits thrown at whistle blowers, the scam took America 15 years to expose.Who took them to task? Tenacious journalists and courageous whistle blowers who insisted on getting the truth out in spite of being stalked and threatened.