"Unsuitable modifications ... rendered the candidates on the liver transplant waiting list inactive," Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center stated on Thursday. "As a result, these patients were unable to receive offers for organ donations while they were inactive."
The New York Times reported, based on officials, that the doctor in question was 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 under contract.
UTHealth Houston, in a statement to CBS News, described Bynon as "an exceptionally skilled and compassionate physician, as well as a trailblazer in abdominal organ transplantation."
"Our team, including Dr. Bynon, is cooperating with the investigation into Memorial Hermann's liver transplant program and is dedicated to addressing and resolving any issues uncovered during this process," stated Deborah Mann Lake, a spokesperson for UTHealth Houston.
Reports from CBS affiliate KHOU revealed that Memorial Hermann hospital has decided to halt its liver donation program due to concerns over irregularities in donor acceptance criteria, specifically related to patients' weight and age. The suspension also includes kidney transplants as both programs share the same leadership.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has taken note of the situation and is currently conducting an investigation into the matter to ensure patient safety and fair access to organ transplant services for all individuals.
Data from the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network has shown a concerning trend at Memorial Hermann, with an increasing number of liver transplant candidates either passing away while on the waitlist or becoming too ill for a transplant in recent years. The hospital has not provided a timeline for when the programs will resume operations.
UTHealth Houston, referencing the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, highlighted the strong survival rates and surgical outcomes of Dr. Bynon, despite treating patients with complex conditions. The hospital aims to uphold the safety and integrity of the organ procurement and transplantation system throughout this process.
The hospital has announced that it is collaborating with patients and their families to ensure they receive the necessary care. They are currently reaching out to 38 patients on the liver transplant list and 346 patients on the kidney transplant list.
While the transplant program is on hold, patients on the waiting lists will not receive organ offers but will continue to accrue waiting time, as per the United Network for Organ Sharing. These patients may be registered on multiple transplant waiting lists or choose to transfer their wait time to another program, with each program having its own set of 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 provide transplant programs.
