TX - Surgeon accused of manipulating medical records to make patients ineligible for liver transplants - April 13, 2024

[I am not Sherlock H.]

I also think it unlikely he’d be charged or prosecuted for murder. However, I could see the program with which he is associated suffering serious consequences from insurance providers whose clients were being essentially lied to. Those patients were not receiving the “standard of care” they and their insurance provider were led to believe they were and because this was artfully concealed from them, they did not seek out alternatives that would have provided that standard of care. And throughout the period of time those patients were “on the list, but not really,” their insurance providers were paying for services.

I would expect that providers might decline to support the program AND might seek reimbursement for services that were provided under fraudulent conditions.

I’d also expect that folks exist (the patients or their loved ones) who might have a case for fraud perpetuated against them that caused them harm and if there are many, there might be cause for a class action that challenges in such a way that the program is forced to expose the decision making behind their selection process as well as every case in which this manipulation of criteria resulted in exclusion from selection.

I also agree with this. IANAL….. so not really able to determine, but at minimum medical malpractice is in order IMO. And depending on the circumstances, one might be able to find other greater harm etc. And maybe some other federal and/state regulations can also be utilized and applied.

The harm perceived needs to be understood and reconciled. And as to intent, perhaps some aware of how patient privacy and medical privacy works may have used that to advantage? Or possible patient detriment IMO?

Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how one slices this) HIPAA regulations will likely make it difficult for ‘outsiders’ to determine patients and their condition or needs. So it may not be easy to determine the ultimate wrongs, harms, ethical breaches, and / or possible criminal activity?

And for that reason, I hope some entity that can really dig in on this gets involved. I am hoping 60 Minutes takes it on.

It would be most unfortunate if a wall of silence or secrecy prevented this from being fully exposed - and prosecuted to the rightful fullest. MOO

 

[Herat]

I also suspect that a significant part of his motivation would be to improve the appearance of his performance by eliminating patients that he knew would be more complicated or have worse outcomes.

If you only operate on the healthiest people, you are going to look like the best surgeon. Part of the investigation should also be to see if there were outcome-related reimbursements or incentives that would cause a significant financial bias to him.

Essentially vanity or greed over how skilled he appeared to be to his colleagues and the community.

 

[j_in_c]

Three patients who died while awaiting a donor organ have been named and lawyers involved to force hospital to preserve evidence. This seems to be a necessary move, organizations performing their own internal reviews are likely to treat themselves more favorably.

We still don't know if any of these named Patients had their specific entries manipulated to prevent them from being recipients but clearly their families want to know.

Families whose loved ones died waiting for a transplant at Houston hospital move to preserve evidence

Three families filed a temporary restraining order asking the court to preserve evidence.

www.click2houston.com

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Houston Public Media / University of Houston online May 22, 2024 article by Sarah Grunau entitled ‘Houston doctor accused of manipulating transplant records ordered to preserve documents relevant to lawsuits’:

Houston doctor accused of manipulating transplant records ordered to preserve documents relevant to lawsuits | Houston Public Media

Under the court order, Bynon will be restricted from destroying any documents like text messages and emails that could be relevant to accusations he improperly denied life-saving organs to at least four transplant patients.

www.houstonpublicmedia.org

Of note from the article - the doctor is Dr. J. Steve Bynon.

Under the court order, Bynon will be restricted from destroying any documents like text messages and emails that could be relevant to accusations he improperly denied life-saving organs to at least four transplant patients.

The major hospital system abruptly halted its kidney and liver transplant programs last month because of a "pattern of irregularities with donor acceptance criteria" within the United Network for Organ Sharing transplant database. Days later, the New York Times reported that a federal investigation was underway after Bynon manipulated transplant documents to prevent patients from receiving organs.

 

[Feme98]

Was there a whistleblower? As mentioned on this page, whistleblowers play an important role in exposing medical fraud, especially when patients' lives are at risk.

 

[kaen]

From September 2024, this doctor has admitted that he did this. "
JD Davis and Tommy Hastings are both attorneys representing clients who have filed lawsuits as a result of Bynon's actions. They said the report, which they first saw Friday, left them shocked."

Memorial Hermann doctor admitted to altering transplant list, records show

Dr. Steve Bynon was accused of changing figures in a database so certain patients on the waitlist would be unable to receive a new liver. Now, he no longer oversees the transplant program in Memorial Hermann.

abc13.com

 

[kaen]

From KPRC Houston, two patients detail their experience with this doctor.