Janice R. Andrews
The Houston-based Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center has temporarily stopped performing liver and kidney transplants after one of its doctors discovered that the facility had made “inappropriate changes” to patient information in a government database. These changes might have made it more difficult for people to receive life-saving organs.
Changes to the liver donor acceptance criteria were discovered during the hospital’s probe, essentially making candidates on the liver transplant waiting list inactive. As a result, offers for organ donation were lost on impacted patients.
The US Department of Health and Human treatments is conducting an inquiry to guarantee patient safety and fair access to transplant treatments. Among the branches involved in this effort are the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The investigation’s subject, transplant surgeon Dr. Steve Bynon Jr., who was in charge of the liver and kidney transplant programs, was relieved of his leadership positions while the investigation was ongoing. Bynon hasn’t verified the changes to the donor acceptance standards, though.
Bynon’s company, UT Health Houston, has highlighted his outstanding surgical results while praising his abilities and dedication to patient care.
Due to shared leadership, Memorial Hermann paused both the liver and kidney programs, even though the liver transplant program was the main area of concern for anomalies. The hospital is making quick work of restarting the kidney transplant program with a new leadership team.
Patients’ awareness of their status and the necessity of prompt notifications in the event that they lose their eligibility for transplantation have been questioned. Memorial Hermann is reaching out to impacted patients one-on-one to talk about their alternatives.
Due to the program’s suspension, patients like Mandy Sears, who have been waiting impatiently for transplants, are faced with uncertainty and sorrow. After six years of waiting for a kidney transplant, Sears shared her dissatisfaction and worry about her situation.
Transparency, responsibility, and patient-centered care are vital in organ transplantation, as the Memorial Hermann transplant program inquiry has shown.
