November 24, 2021
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Theranos
As an entrepreneur and investor in healthcare startups, I think there is a substantial ethical difference in healthcare than just about any other sector. If you're going to build something, you have a responsibility to human beings that what you're selling works... at least equal or better than what you're trying to replace.
It's wonderful to have dreams of changing healthcare - it's wonderful also to aim at finding the fountain of youth, after all we're still searching for ways to beat senescence and death! But having big dreams is no excuse for not knowing the state of your company.
If the defense can pull off an acquittal for this ex CEO, I will find it a dark day for justice.
For a CEO to not know that their product doesn't work while feverishly trying to build a business for said product, and further, to claim that they are a victim of fraud and manipulation... it beggars belief.
One can rightly argue that their investors were foolish (yes, they were), but if the CEO isn't responsible, who is? This is not kindergarten.
