J Steve Bynon Jr: Houston transplant surgeon accused of altering records to deny liver transplants

HOUSTON, TEXAS: A prominent transplant surgeon in Houston, Texas, faces charges of withholding new livers from his patients by altering their medical records and exploiting a government database.

Throughout his thirty-year career, Dr J Steve Bynon Jr has conducted over eight hundred procedures and possesses "considerable expertise in liver transplantation," as stated in his biography on the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center website. He has served as a physician since 1981.

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center admits making inappropriate changes to patient record

According to a statement released by the hospital and reported by the Houston Chronicle, Bynon, a physician at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, admitted to making "inappropriate changes" to patient medical records on April 11.

These changes effectively removed the candidates from the liver transplant waiting list.

"Subsequently, these patients did not/were not able to receive organ donation offers while inactive." the statement said.

According to the bio of the medical facility, the 64-year-old, Bynon has been contracted since 2011 to supervise Memorial Hermann's liver and kidney transplant programs.

Following the discovery of "irregularities" regarding donor acceptance criteria unique to the center's liver transplant program, officials reportedly initiated an investigation.

Furthermore, the records document a disproportionately high number of patients who passed away while awaiting a liver at the facility.

According to data from the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network, 14 patients were removed from Memorial Hermann's liver transplant waiting list in 2023 due to either death or severe illness.

Moreover, in 2024, five patients awaiting a liver transplant have already succumbed to illness or passed away. A spokesman from UTHealth Houston described Bynon as "an exceptionally talented and caring physician, and a pioneer in abdominal organ transplantation," in a statement to People.

“Our faculty and staff members, including Dr Bynon, are assisting with the inquiry into Memorial Hermann’s liver transplant program and are committed to addressing and resolving any findings identified by this process,” the statement added.

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center suspended transplant programs

In response to the allegations, Memorial Hermann promptly suspended its liver transplant programs. Additionally, due to Bynon's leadership at the center, the kidney transplant program has also been halted.

“Over the past two weeks, we have been actively working with all impacted patients, families and caregivers from the liver and the kidney transplant programs, following the difficult decision to voluntarily inactivate both programs,” the hospital remarked.

“Our primary priority is ensuring continuity of compassionate care for patients who were on the transplant program lists at the hospital," it further stated.

"Each patient is being individually contacted by a transplant care coordinator to review ongoing care options, including a seamless transition to another transplant program, where necessary,” the hospital added.

“We are working with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to make the necessary changes that will allow for the quick reactivation of the kidney transplant program under a different physician leadership structure,” the statement continued.

“All program transplant physicians are employed by the University of Health Science Center at Houston and contracted to Memorial Hermann to provide physician services. Our investigation is ongoing, and we continue to cooperate with all regulatory authorities.”

Internet slams medical industry

As soon as the news of Dr J Steve Bynon Jr altering records to secretly deny liver transplants went viral on Facebook, netizens started reacting to it.

A user dubbed the medical industry as "corrupt," stating, "The medical industry is so corrupt."

Another user wrote, "May he rot in prison." One more commentator mentioned in shock, "How horrible!"

A user also remarked, "Folks just hire any ol body. Pathetic. Drain that drs retirement account and the hospitals funds..." [sic]

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.