The author of the pathology blawg is a hero

[Doormat]

Just finished reading “Bad blood”. It’s the best book i’ve read in decades. Written by the wall street journal reporter J. Carreyrou, it tells the stunning story Elizabeth Holmes and theranos. The pathology blawg author contacted the WSJ reporter, providing the spark which led to the the impending collapse of theranos. Hero.

Other hero acts:

1. Detailing the 2015 Strata-Dx settlement with the US attorney. This case opens up every lab that provides something of value (client billing) in exchange for medicare referrals to false claims act (FCA) and anti kickback statute (AKC) litigation. If you client bill you can’t use one lab — you must use 2 labs — which is a logistical headache.

2. Exposing CAP financial mismanagment after exposing their tax disclosure forms for a non-profit. The CEO of CAP resigned.

3. Exposing the corrupt practices of labs that engage in client billing and self referral. Look at Miraca life sciences (formely Caris and now Inform diangostcs) impending 63 million dollar settlement with the US attorney

4. Hastening the downfall of narcissist E. Holmes and Theranos

Bravo!!!! Come back pathology blawg!

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[icpshootyz]

I agree. Wish the blog still existed. I have a feeling he was threatened with some serious lawsuit or something and had to quit based on the risk. I have my guesses who it was (cough...cough...Strata...cough....)

 

[y2k_free_radical]

Just finished reading “Bad blood”. It’s the best book i’ve read in decades. Written by the wall street journal reporter J. Carreyrou, it tells the stunning story Elizabeth Holmes and theranos. The pathology blawg author contacted the WSJ reporter, providing the spark which led to the the impending collapse of theranos. Hero.

Other hero acts:

1. Detailing the 2015 Strata-Dx settlement with the US attorney. This case opens up every lab that provides something of value (client billing) in exchange for medicare referrals to false claims act (FCA) and anti kickback statute (AKC) litigation. If you client bill you can’t use one lab — you must use 2 labs — which is a logistical headache.

2. Exposing CAP financial mismanagment after exposing their tax disclosure forms for a non-profit. The CEO of CAP resigned.

3. Exposing the corrupt practices of labs that engage in client billing and self referral. Look at Miraca life sciences (formely Caris and now Inform diangostcs) impending 63 million dollar settlement with the US attorney

4. Hastening the downfall of narcissist E. Holmes and Theranos

Bravo!!!! Come back pathology blawg!

I agree and miss it.Best overall pathology blawg imo.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

The book did reveal his identity to people. I wonder if he wanted that to happen.

He sure shined the light on the cockroaches of our field who don't want transparency.

 

[y2k_free_radical]

The book did reveal his identity to people. I wonder if he wanted that to happen.

He sure shined the light on the cockroaches of our field who don't want transparency.

Where was the CAP,ASCP,SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTS,CLIA.et al ??????????????

 

[Pathbusiness]

Same person behind collapse of all three labs?

 

[Granular]

Where was the CAP,ASCP,SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTS,CLIA.et al ??????????????

In 2015, I spoke with several AACC leaders about the impossibility of the company’s claims, to prompt them to publicly denounce it. All were appropriately skeptical, but were not willing to expose AACC to the expected litigation. Soon after, the company got FDA approval for the HSV test, further raising the barrier for making a statement. But several academic clinical chemists did publicly express their doubts (Diamandis, Yeo). But VCs were not asking for expert opinions before writing checks, it seems. They fancy themselves a lot smarter than dorky (and comparatively poor) academics, I guess.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Yeah, there were definitely some clinical chemistry folks wanting to expose them. I know of one institution that was in discussion with Theranos to perform comparison testing with them (behind the scenes, the dept chair said something along the lines of "we're going to catch them with their pants down") but unfortunately never got the chance because theranos just went silent. That was well before the public questioning began. Then some articles were published in response to the AZ legislation and patients being able to order their own tests without a doc and the risks of that.

 

[dukeresident]

Where was the CAP,ASCP,SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTS,CLIA.et al ??????????????

AWOL...no surprise.

 

[Dave CX]

Unbelievable book. Incredible the extent of this con job. Proves the adage attributed to Goebbels " the bigger the lie and the more often its told, the more people will believe it".

 

[gbwillner]

I just finished the book...

I think the bigger problem has more to do with the investment community not having expertise in the field and not employing experts to validate the product before investing. They went in blind and threw money at Holmes. She used that money to set up a legal firewall that protected the company from anyone seeing anything and suing anyone they even suspected of having a negative opinion of the company.

I'm not sure how you can blame CAP if they were not CAP accredited. CLIA did inspect them and shut them down.

We need processes to prevent fraud, but not to a degree that prohibits business and freedom. Its not Minority Report- people have to commit fraud to be caught and punished for it.

I expect Holmes and her boyfriend to face criminal charges soon.

One other thing- As I went through the book, I felt bad for the medical directors who were coerced to allow these shenanigans- BUT- I also think they need to face the piper. They DID allow it to continue. I would not have done that. I would have shut it down.

In Texas medical directors must be independent from the company for this very reason- companies should not have undo influence over medical decision making. Probably not so in California. This is a great example of why such a separation is a good idea.

 

[Pathbusiness]

I just finished the book...

I think the bigger problem has more to do with the investment community not having expertise in the field and not employing experts to validate the product before investing. They went in blind and threw money at Holmes. She used that money to set up a legal firewall that protected the company from anyone seeing anything and suing anyone they even suspected of having a negative opinion of the company.

I'm not sure how you can blame CAP if they were not CAP accredited. CLIA did inspect them and shut them down.

We need processes to prevent fraud, but not to a degree that prohibits business and freedom. Its not Minority Report- people have to commit fraud to be caught and punished for it.

I expect Holmes and her boyfriend to face criminal charges soon.

One other thing- As I went through the book, I felt bad for the medical directors who were coerced to allow these shenanigans- BUT- I also think they need to face the piper. They DID allow it to continue. I would not have done that. I would have shut it down.

In Texas medical directors must be independent from the company for this very reason- companies should not have undo influence over medical decision making. Probably not so in California. This is a great example of why such a separation is a good idea.

Texas labs don't have a stellar record as far as fraud is concerned. Once you become medical director of a VC firm, you are just a bottleneck.

 

[Torsed]

The pathology blog was absolutely spectacular. I hope the individual or future individual paves the way for exposure and free speech.