Houston Hospital Halts Liver and Kidney Transplant Programs Due to Doctor’s Manipulation of Records

Houston Hospital Halts Liver and Kidney Transplant Programs Amid Doctor’s Alleged Record Manipulation

A Houston hospital has made the decision to suspend its liver and kidney transplant programs after uncovering evidence that a doctor may have tampered with records for liver transplant candidates. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center revealed that “inappropriate changes” were made to the records, rendering candidates on the liver transplant waiting list inactive and unable to receive organ donation offers.

The doctor in question has been identified as Dr. J. Steve Bynon Jr., a surgeon at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston who was leading Memorial Hermann’s abdominal transplant program. Despite being described as “an exceptionally talented and caring physician” by UTHealth Houston, Dr. Bynon is now at the center of an investigation into the alleged misconduct.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has taken notice of the allegations and has initiated an investigation into the matter to ensure patient safety and equitable access to organ transplant services. The hospital has reported an increase in the number of liver transplant candidates dying while on the waitlist or becoming too ill for a transplant in recent years.

While the hospital has not disclosed how long the programs will remain suspended, they are working to provide care to affected patients and their families. Patients on the waiting lists may transfer their wait time to another program or be on multiple transplant waiting lists, but each program has its own criteria for evaluating and accepting transplant candidates.

Other hospitals in Houston, such as Houston Methodist, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also offer transplant programs for patients in need. The investigation into the alleged record manipulation continues as the hospital works to address and resolve the findings identified in the process.