9 hours Ago By Kyle McClenagan
The Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston has reactivated its liver transplant program almost exactly a year after a surgeon admitted to manipulating a database to prevent patients from receiving new livers. "We are pleased to share that we are reactivating Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center's Abdominal Transplant Program," a Memorial Hermann spokesperson said in a statement. "We have fully cooperated with all regulatory agencies and swiftly implemented corrective actions after voluntarily pausing the program in March 2024.
” The hospital system abruptly halted the program last year due to a "pattern of irregularities with donor acceptance criteria," the hospital said at the time . A few days after the announced pause, The New York Times reported that the hospital was under federal investigation after Dr. J.
Steve Bynon, a nationally renowned doctor and leader of the hospital's transplant team, allegedly manipulated documents. Memorial Hermann ultimately confirmed that a doctor in the transplant program admitted to changing the records. In a statement, a Memorial Hermann spokesperson said the medical system looks forward to resuming its transplant program.
"Our goal since then has always been to reactivate the program as quickly and as safely as possible, and we now have support from Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Membership and Professional Standards Committee to do so," the spokesperson said. "Above and beyond the corrective actions already taken, we have also implemented several crucial changes – including strategic personnel and leadership governance and structural changes – to ensure the smooth, effective and efficient reactivation of the program," the spokesperson added. Less than a month after the allegations came to light, several families who said they had previously been denied liver transplants joined a lawsuit against Memorial Hermann.
The lawsuit is still ongoing, according to Harris County court documents. Earlier this year, Memorial Hermann received the rare designation of "not in good standing" from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. The network gave Memorial Hermann its most severe designation as a result of the scandal.
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