Erika Cheung: Theranos, whistleblowing and speaking truth to power | TED

Summary

Erika Cheung shares her personal journey from joining the promising start-up Theranos to uncovering its dangerous flaws. As a recent graduate, she was drawn to the company's revolutionary technology that promised quick, painless blood tests. However, as she worked in the lab, she began noticing discrepancies in the data and accuracy of the tests. Despite raising concerns, her warnings were ignored, leading her to eventually blow the whistle. She emphasizes the importance of speaking up in such situations and shares the framework of commitment, consciousness, and competency to guide ethical decision-making.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker graduated from Berkeley with dual degrees in molecular and cell biology and linguistics, and was excited to join Theranos after hearing about its innovative technology in blood testing.
• 😀 Theranos' technology promised to revolutionize diagnostics by enabling blood tests with just a fingerstick, which could potentially detect diseases early, even before symptoms appeared.
• 😀 The speaker admired Theranos' founder, Elizabeth Holmes, for dropping out of Stanford to start a company that was seen as an ambitious moonshot, regardless of background or traditional credentials.
• 😀 Upon joining Theranos, the speaker noticed issues in the laboratory with inconsistent and inaccurate test results, which raised doubts about the company's technology and integrity.
• 😀 Data manipulation was one of the first red flags for the speaker, with colleagues suggesting that outliers in test data be removed to improve the accuracy rates, which goes against scientific principles.
• 😀 The speaker witnessed frequent discrepancies in test results for known samples, raising serious concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the Theranos devices for patient testing.
• 😀 When Theranos was asked to verify the accuracy of its technology by regulators, the company submitted the results from FDA-approved machines instead of their own devices, signaling a lack of trust in their own technology.
• 😀 Despite raising concerns with colleagues, including the COO and board members, the speaker was told to focus on processing patient samples rather than questioning the system, highlighting a toxic corporate culture.
• 😀 After seeking advice from a colleague with connections to a board member, the speaker reported the issues to a regulatory agency, which led to an investigation into Theranos' practices and ultimately stopped the company from processing patient samples.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on how difficult it was to take action, feeling scared and uncertain, but acknowledges that it was necessary to speak up for the sake of patient safety, even if it meant personal consequences.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of fostering cultures that encourage speaking up, with a focus on commitment, consciousness, and competency to make ethical decisions and act in the face of wrongdoing.

Q & A

What was the initial appeal of Theranos for the speaker?

The speaker was initially drawn to Theranos because of its potential to revolutionize healthcare by creating a device that could run comprehensive blood tests from just a finger-stick. The company promised to make diagnostics more frequent and less painful, which could potentially lead to earlier disease detection.

How did the speaker relate to Elizabeth Holmes and her background?

The speaker related to Elizabeth Holmes' background because both had overcome personal challenges. Holmes had dropped out of Stanford at a young age to start Theranos, which resonated with the speaker, who had worked hard to overcome adversity and earned a degree from Berkeley despite early life struggles.

What red flags did the speaker notice while working at Theranos?

The speaker noticed several red flags, including manipulation of data to fit the desired narrative, inconsistent and unreliable test results, and a lack of transparency regarding the performance of the device. These issues raised doubts about the accuracy and safety of the company's technology.

What was the response from management when the speaker raised concerns about the company's practices?

When the speaker raised concerns, the response from management, particularly the COO, was dismissive. The speaker was told they didn't know what they were talking about and was instructed to process patient samples without addressing the issues.

Why did the speaker feel compelled to speak up about the problems at Theranos?

The speaker felt compelled to speak up because they were deeply uncomfortable with the idea of patients being tested on a device that was unreliable and potentially harmful. Despite the risks involved, the speaker believed it was their ethical responsibility to address these concerns.

How did the speaker take action after being discouraged by the company?

The speaker reached out to a colleague, Tyler Shultz, and together they shared their concerns with George Shultz, Tyler's grandfather, who was on the Theranos Board of Directors. After further reflection, the speaker decided to write a letter to regulatory authorities outlining the issues they had observed in the lab.

What impact did the speaker's letter have on Theranos?

The speaker's letter to regulators triggered an investigation into Theranos, which revealed serious deficiencies in the company's operations. This investigation eventually halted Theranos from processing patient samples, exposing the company's unethical practices.

What was the emotional state of the speaker during the process of speaking up?

The speaker was initially terrified, anxious, and ashamed, doubting themselves and wondering if they were the problem. However, once they connected with other concerned individuals, they gained confidence that they were doing the right thing.

How does the speaker suggest individuals can make ethical decisions in difficult situations?

The speaker suggests using a framework of commitment, consciousness, and competency to guide ethical decision-making. This involves a commitment to doing the right thing, being aware of the moral implications of actions, and having the competency to evaluate situations and understand the potential consequences.

What is the key message the speaker conveys at the end of their talk?

The key message is the importance of fostering a culture where speaking up is the norm, not the exception. The speaker encourages individuals to act based on ethical convictions and to always consider how their decisions might impact others, especially when working on ambitious projects like moon shots.