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Elizabeth Holmes- Case Archive
personpersonBrittany GouldBrittany GouldFormer Theranos patient who received conflicting pregnancy-test results.← All People
Witness

Brittany Gould

Former Theranos patient who received conflicting pregnancy-test results.

AppearedFederal Criminal Trial
90 lines·8 proceedings·7 mentions

About

Brittany Gould testified for the government about relying on Theranos both personally and when referring patients. She said its pricing, convenience, and advertised finger-prick testing impressed her, and she expected its blood-test results to be accurate and reliable.

During a pregnancy following three prior miscarriages, Theranos-associated HCG information led Gould's treating clinician, Audra Zachman, to tell her that the numbers were falling. Gould said she understood that she was miscarrying and discussed possible ways the pregnancy might end. Later information from Quest conflicted with that understanding; Gould remained pregnant and gave birth to a girl.

Gould testified that the episode caused her to stop using Theranos and referring patients there because she no longer trusted its results. Zachman's testimony and the admitted laboratory reports provided clinical and documentary context: the original decline suggested pregnancy loss, while the corrected flat result also appeared clinically troubling, although neither indicated outcome occurred. On cross-examination, Zachman acknowledged limits in her assay-science knowledge and said a broader chart review found little else out of place, while maintaining that Gould's result was unusually discrepant.

Trial Record (8)

FederalFederal Criminal TrialAug 31, 2021 – Jan 3, 2022Called by prosecution

Brittany Gould testified that Theranos's pricing, convenience, and advertised finger-prick testing led her to use its services and refer patients there. After HCG information made her believe she was miscarrying before conflicting information and the pregnancy's continuation, she stopped using Theranos and referring patients.

Day 9

ProceduralEvidentiary HearingMentioned

Summary

The court set an initial protocol for displaying selected Holmes-Balwani messages, confirmed limits on customer-impact testimony, and addressed corrected test reports without deciding all message-specific objections.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossAudra Zachman — CrossAudra ZachmanKatherine TrefzMentioned

Summary

Zachman limited her expertise to clinical interpretation, acknowledged Theranos's corrective response and a later comparative study, and confirmed that her broader chart review found few apparent anomalies while maintaining that Gould's result was unusually out of place.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectBrittany Gould — DirectBrittany GouldRobert S. Leach7highlights90lines spoken

Summary

Brittany Gould said Theranos's cost and convenience prompted her reliance, but conflicting pregnancy-test information led her to believe she was miscarrying and ultimately caused her to stop using and recommending the company.

Highlights (7)

testimony highlightGould testified that Theranos marketing emphasized prices, locations, convenience, and finger-prick testing; she believed its tests were accurate and reliable and referred uninsured or self-paying patients there.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightAfter describing three prior miscarriages, Gould said she became pregnant again, initially received a reassuring Quest result, and chose Theranos testing for cost and convenience while expecting an accurate and reliable result.Open in transcript →
emotional momentGould testified that after another Theranos test, Dr. Audra Zachman told her the HCG numbers were falling. Gould understood that to mean she was miscarrying, and they discussed medication, a D&C, or allowing the process to occur naturally.Open in transcript →
Quote“I WENT IN FOR MY VISIT, AND THEY GIVE YOU A BAG OF STUFF WHEN YOU'RE A NEW MOM, ALL OF THE GOODIES. SO I GOT MY BAG, AND WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION. AND THEN THE LAB RESULTS HAD COME IN AT THE END OF THE VISIT, AND SHE TOLD ME YOUR NUMBERS ARE FALLING, UNFORTUNATELY. THAT SIGNIFIED TO ME THAT I WAS MISCARRYING.”— Brittany GouldGould explained how the reported falling numbers led her to believe the pregnancy was ending.Open in transcript →
Show all 7 highlights
testimony highlightGould described conflicting Quest information, said later testing showed she remained pregnant and ultimately gave birth to a girl, and testified that she stopped using or referring patients to Theranos because she no longer trusted its results.Open in transcript →
Quote“I CAN'T RECALL THE DETAILS, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING, THE CONFLICTING INFORMATION. SO FROM THAT POINT FORWARD WE DECIDED TO STICK WITH SONORA QUEST JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, GETTING ACCURATE RESULTS.”— Brittany GouldShe preserved the limits of her recollection while explaining that conflicting information caused her to rely on a different laboratory.Open in transcript →
Quote“INACCURATE RESULTS. WE CAN'T PROVIDE ACCURATE PATIENT CARE WITH INACCURATE RESULTS.”— Brittany GouldGould stated why she stopped referring patients from the medical practice to Theranos.Open in transcript →

Day 42

Day 46

ClosingClosing Argument by the ProsecutionJeff SchenkMentioned

Summary

The prosecution argued that Holmes knowingly deceived investors and patients, linked the documentary and testimonial record to the conspiracy and wire-fraud elements, rebutted the principal defense themes, and requested guilty verdicts on all remaining counts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 47