A Houston physician, John Stevenson Bynon Jr., faces serious allegations of falsifying medical records that rendered potential organ transplant recipients ineligible for life-saving procedures. According to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, Bynon, who is 66 years old, surrendered to federal authorities and appeared before a judge on March 14, 2024.
Bynon served as the Director of Abdominal Organ Transplantation and the Surgical Director for Liver Transplantation at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Under his supervision, patients were reportedly placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) liver transplant waitlist while awaiting organ donations. However, investigators allege that Bynon made false claims on medical records that affected patients’ eligibility for transplants.
Many patients, along with their families and medical teams, were reportedly unaware of the inaccuracies in their records. Consequently, some individuals remained ineligible for months without realizing they could not receive offers for donor organs during that time.
“Dr. Bynon is alleged to have betrayed the most sacred duty of a medical professional—to heal,” stated Ganjei. He emphasized that the indictment suggests Bynon “stole years and hope from those who trusted him most by falsifying records and preventing patients from receiving organ transplants.” The Southern District of Texas is committed to pursuing justice for all victims involved in this case.
The allegations suggest that Bynon manipulated the criteria for patients on organ transplant waiting lists, which may have compromised their chances of survival. Jason Hudson, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Houston Field Office, remarked, “Today’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 also notes that some of Bynon’s patients experienced severe health outcomes due to the alleged falsifications. Following the discovery of these false statements, at least two patients sought care at other facilities and ultimately received organ transplants.
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 for each conviction. The ramifications of this case extend beyond legal consequences, as it raises significant concerns about patient trust in medical professionals and the integrity of the healthcare system.
