HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston physician is accused of falsifying medical records, which made potential transplant recipients ineligible for organ donations, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
John Stevenson Bynon Jr., 66, surrendered to federal authorities and appeared before a federal judge on Thursday afternoon.
According to the indictment, Bynon was the director of abdominal organ transplantation and surgical director for liver transplantation at Memorial Hermann Hospital, where, under his care, patients were allegedly activated on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) liver transplant waitlist while awaiting an organ donation.
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Investigators allege Bynon made false claims on medical records, which affected patients’ eligibility for organ donations. They added that, according to court records, patients, their families, and other members of their medical care team were unaware of the false information. Many patients allegedly remained ineligible for months without knowing they could not receive donor organ offers during that time.
“Dr. Bynon is alleged to have betrayed the most sacred duty of a medical professional-to heal,” said Ganjei. “According to the indictment, he stole years and hope from those who trusted him most by falsifying records and preventing patients from receiving organ transplants. Rest assured, the Southern District of Texas will continue to seek justice for every victim in this case.”
“Dr. Bynon is accused of manipulating the criteria of patients on organ transplant waiting lists, thereby allegedly manipulating the patients’ chance of survival,” acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson of the FBI Houston Field Office said. “(Thursday’s) indictment makes it clear that the FBI will investigate allegations of patient harm regardless of how reputable and respected the practitioner is or the hospital system they work for.”
The indictment alleges some of Bynon’s patients had dire health outcomes, and two others sought care at alternate facilities following the discovery of the alleged false statements and ultimately received organ transplants.
In court on Thursday, the judge balked at the U.S. government’s willingness to let Dr. Bynon out on an unsecured bond. Instead, she required the doctor either to deposit $2 million in cash or to sign over his home to the government. The judge says the surgeon has substantial assets and can easily leave the country.
After his court appearance, Dr. Bynon’s attorney said the charges are baseless.
“He’s performed more than 2,000 transplants,” attorney Sami Khalil said, pointing out the surgeon’s 40-year career and the lives changed.
Khalil says they will “educate the court” about the ridiculousness of these charges.
According to the DOJ, Bynon is charged with five counts of making false statements in health care matters. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 per conviction.
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