In Brief: Theranos Issues Thousands of Corrected Tests; Sharp Grossmont Admits Privacy Breach

Theranos Issues Tens Of Thousands Of Corrected Tests

Palo Alto-based lab startup Theranos continued its descent into complete dysfunction by apparently issuing thousands of corrected laboratory tests, the Wall Street Journal reported this week.

The newspaper reported that Theranos voided two years worth of test results performed on its proprietary Edison platform, which purports to perform many lab tests with just a few drops of blood. However, the voided results also included tests run on legacy laboratory platforms from other manufacturers as well.

The company was performing about 20 basic tests on the Edison platform, but misleading data on the tests could have led to patients receiving inappropriate and even potentially dangerous treatments. The correction of so many tests -- the Wall Street Journal estimated Theranos’ volume of testing was about 850,000 annually -- appears unprecedented.

That Theranos was voiding many of its test results may be a move to try and preempt the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pulling Theranos’ licensure for its laboratory in Newark. It operates another laboratory in Arizona.

The disclosures come on the heels of the recent departure from the company of Sunny Balwani, who has served as Theranos' president and chief operating officer since 2009. He announced his retirement from the company last week.

In addition to Balwani’s departure, Theranos added three new members to its board, including an expert in quality control.

Sharp Grossmont Admits Privacy Breach

Sharp Grossmont Hospital in San Diego has admitted a breach of patient privacy in connection to its investigation of drug thefts.

Sharp said in a statement last week that it had used video surveillance to implicate anesthesiologist Adam Dorin, M.D., in the alleged theft of medications. The videos released to his attorney included 14 patients who were delivering children.

Dorin’s alleged actions have been reported to the California Medical Board, records show, but his license remains in place.

Sharp said in its statement it was in the process of examining the video clips and medical records in order to identify the patients and notify them of the breach.

Kaiser Performs Free Surgeries

Kaiser Permanente performed free surgeries on about 30 patients at its West Los Angeles hospital last week as part of its ongoing “community access days.”

The procedures were fairly basic, primarily hernia repairs, gallbladder removal and colonoscopies, among others. But they were out of reach for the low-income patients on whom they were performed.

“Many of these patients have been dealing with the pain or discomfort associated with their conditions for many years and simply don’t have the money to pay for these crucial procedures,” said Clare Thomas, an osteopathic anesthesiologist at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles and chair of the community access program. “There are still many in our community who do not have healthcare so this program remains an important service.”