Macy Kelly / Houston Public Media
Authorities are investigating allegations that a liver transplant surgeon at Memorial Hermann Medical Center manipulated a government database to prevent patients from receiving new liver transplants, The New York Times reports. .
The development comes days after the hospital system announced it was effectively shutting down its liver and kidney transplant programs because of irregular patterns in donor acceptance criteria in the Organ Sharing Network's database.
RELATED: Houston-based Memorial Hermann Hospital discontinues kidney, liver transplant program
According to the Times, the medical center announced that Dr. J. Steve Bynon admitted to altering patient records.
Spokespersons for the hospital system said by phone that they could not confirm the details of the allegations against Mr. Bynon reported by the Times and declined immediate comment. In a statement Friday to Houston Public Media, the hospital system did not mention the investigation.
“Our top priority is to ensure continuity of compassionate care for patients who were on the hospital's transplant program list,” the statement said. “Each patient is contacted individually by a transplant care coordinator to discuss ongoing treatment options, including seamless transition to another transplant program if necessary.”
Although violations of UNOS database standards were limited to the liver transplant program, the kidney program was also suspended due to “shared leadership,” according to a statement provided to Houston Public Media.
The University of Texas Health Science Center employs Bynon and defended the charges against him on Friday.
“Dr. Steve Bynon is an extraordinarily talented and compassionate physician and a pioneer in abdominal organ transplantation,” a statement from UTHealth Houston said. “Our faculty, including Dr. Bynon, are supporting the investigation into Memorial Hermann's liver transplant program and are committed to addressing and resolving any findings identified during this process.”
This is a developing story.
