While researching his defence to the Theranos' lawsuit, Fuisz noted Gibbons was often named as co-inventor with Holmes on many of Theranos' patents. He also noted there were similarities between Gibbons' Theranos patents and those he had filed while working for a previous employer, Biotrack. In response, Fuisz added Gibbons' name to his list of witnesses to be [[deposition (law)|deposed]] to answer questions about improper reuse of past work and the identification of Holmes as a co-inventor.<ref name=VF />{{sfn|Carreyrou|2020|pp=132-133, 139-140}}
Ian Gibbons became nervous and depressed when he learnt he would be [[subpoena]]ed to testify.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/10/22/british-head-scientist-at-us-mavericks-silicon-valley-start-up-t/ |title=British head scientist at US maverick's Silicon Valley start-up took own life over 'unworkable' technology |last1=Daniel |first1=Hugo |date=2016-10-22 |work=The Telegraph |last2=Alexander |first2=Harriet |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He wanted to avoid being deposed because he was afraid his job depended on his testimony.<ref>{{citation|publisher=The Slate Group LLC. |via=[[NewsBank]]|title=Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes Sold Certainty and Sex Appeal{{spd}}It's the kind of catastrophe that happens when millennial influencer culture meets old-school male hubris.|date=20 March 2019|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|first=Margaret|last=Wappler|page=Section: Culture}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title='The Inventor': How Elizabeth Holmes Pulled Off the Scam of the Century|date=18 March 2019|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|first=Amy|last=Zimmerman|page=Section: Con Artist|via=[[NewsBank]]|publisher=The Daily Beast Company LLC.}}</ref> Rochelle Gibbons assessed his state of mind towards the end of his time at Theranos: "It was hell for him to work there. It was complete hell. I think that he was very confused about why he was being treated so badly."<ref>{{citation|title=Elizabeth Holmes Found Guilty on Four of 11 Charges In Epic Blood-Testing Trial|date=3 January 2022|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|via=[[NewsBank]]|publisher=The Daily Beast Company LLC.}}</ref> She said GibbonsIan felt humiliated to be associated with the company's scientific failures.<ref name=hugo>{{citation|via=[[Gale OneFile]]|title=The fatal fallout of tech billionaire's 'health revolution' British head scientist at US maverick's Silicon Valley start-up took own life over 'unworkable' technology|date=22 October 2016|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first1=Hugo|last1=Daniel|first2=Harriet|last2=Alexander}}</ref> He felt pressured by Theranos to lie about the state of the company's research.<ref>{{citation|via=[[NewsBank]]|title=More from a longtime Elizabeth Holmes skeptic: On excuses, moments of fame and other Theranos encounters|work=[[East Bay Times]]|page=Web Edition; Section: Business|date=7 June 2019|first=Nico|last=Savidge}}</ref> GibbonsRochelle believed if he told the truth, he would lose his job, and have limited future job prospects due to his age.{{sfn|Carreyrou|2020|p=147}}<ref name=paloalto>{{citation|work=[[Palo Alto Daily Post]]|title=Story emerges about suicide of Theranos scientist|date=9 September 2016|page=1|location=Palo Alto, California|via=[[NewsBank]]|publisher=Daily Post, L.L.C.}}</ref> GibbonsIan felt he was in a no-win scenario; by not speaking out, he thought, he would hurtbe hurting the general populace by not speaking out, but also that he would hurt his colleagues if he agreed to speak the truth, abouthe thewould inaccuracyhurt ofhis the Theranoscolleagues machines.<ref>{{citation|title=SEC charges Theranos, founder Elizabeth Holmes with 'massive' fraud|date=14 March 2018|work=[[East Bay Times]]|first=Levi|last=Sumagaysay|via=[[NewsBank]]|page=Web Edition; Section: Business}}</ref><ref name=martin31>{{citation|access-date=5 March 2023|work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/tv/a39224721/the-dropout-who-is-ian-gibbons-true-story/|issn=0194-9535|oclc= 824603960|title='The Dropout': Who Is Ian Gibbons, and What's the True Story Behind His Tragic Death? - The British biochemist, played by Stephen Fry, was one of the few people who knew that Holmes' Theranos invention didn't work|date=1 March 2022|first=Laura|last=Martin}}</ref>
