More families join lawsuit against Memorial Hermann doctors who rejected liver transplant candidates – Houston Public Media

A growing number of families are coming forward to say their loved one was approved for a liver transplant, only to have it later rejected.

This is part of a scandal involving Dr. Steve Bynon, a top transplant surgeon who is accused of falsifying records at Memorial Hermann Medical Center.

The Davis & Davis law firm has filed for intervention and entered into a restraining order against Dr. Bynon, prohibiting him from altering or manipulating patient files. According to Houston medical malpractice attorney JD Davis, preserving these records is essential.

“If we have the medical records and have the opportunity to have a liver specialist look at them, we will be able to determine whether this person is truly a candidate and is healthy enough to have this precious liver harvested.” You’ll know if it is,’” Davis said.

Among other things, Davis is representing the family of Jerry Whittington, a 64-year-old man who died in 2023 after being removed from the liver transplant waiting list.

His son, Joseph Whittington, told a news conference that his father died shortly after being refused a liver transplant.

“The main reason I was told was that his health was deteriorating and even if he did, it wouldn't be possible in time,” Whittington said. “Right after his family said no in front of him, he went through the worst. It really didn't make sense for the whole family to say he had to be this sick to have his liver taken out, but now… So did he.'' It's hard when your liver hurts. ”

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Lawyers from Davis & Davis and Hastings are currently working to determine what happened, what was manipulated, and why evidence in the case was suppressed. I want to make sure that you don't.

“If you're eligible to make a liver, you get put on a list. You're told you're going to make a liver, and then at some point you're told, 'You're not eligible for that.' You're taken off the list,” Davis said. “And some of the people I talked to said that within days, his loved ones had passed away.”

Meanwhile, Davis questions why Dr. Bynon manipulated the transplant records.

“Is this a matter of pride? Is it a legal issue? Or is this a survival issue for the transplant center?” Davis asked.

Mr. Davis also confirmed that one of his close friends was the client in the matter. “I watched his son get sick every day. I watched him go to Memorial Hermann for a transplant and then he passed away,” Davis said. Told. “And when I spoke to his father about two weeks ago, he was as distraught as he's ever been through the entire process, including his son's death. Devastated is the word that comes to mind. But that's not a good way to describe the condition he and his wife are in. ”

As for the upcoming case against Dr. Bynon, Davis said, “It's going to be interesting.”