Texas Hospital Suspends Organ Transplant Program Amid Allegations of Record Manipulation by Physician
A Texas hospital has closed its organ transplant program following allegations that a physician made inappropriate changes to medical records, rendering some patients ineligible for operations. The Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston has paused its kidney and liver transplant program while an investigation is ongoing into modifications made to a patient database. The changes affected patients on the liver transplant waiting list, with reports indicating that renowned transplant surgeon Dr. J. Steve Bynon Jr. may have been involved in making these alterations.
Investigation into Alleged Changes
Hospital officials discovered that patients were listed as only accepting donors with impossible characteristics, such as a 300-pound child, which prevented them from receiving any transplant. The motivation behind these alterations remains unclear, and the incident is currently being looked into by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and is committed to addressing the issue with the necessary attention.
Commitment to Resolution
Dr. Steve Bynon, who is affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and oversees the transplant program under contract, has been described as a talented and caring physician with exceptional outcomes in abdominal organ transplantation. The faculty and staff members, including Dr. Bynon, are cooperating with the investigation to address any findings that may arise. The Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center has yet to provide a comment on the matter.
