HOUSTON — In the last two years, at least three men died while waiting for a liver transplant.
Their families would be able to accept their fate if it wasn't for their deceased loved ones being wrapped up in a scandal involving Memorial Hermann's liver transplant program.
Memorial Hermann suspended its liver transplant program earlier this month after discovering irregularities with its liver donor acceptance criteria. It wasn't until a bombshell report released by the New York Times that we learned Dr. Steve Bynon, who works for UTHealth and contracts with Memorial Hermann, was accused of making his patients ineligible for liver transplants.
Richard Mostacci, Robert Osuna and Daniel Rodriguez-Alvarez were all patients of Dr. Bynon. Mostacci and Osuna both died last year while waiting for liver transplants. Rodriguez died just two weeks ago waiting for his.
Family members of Mostacci said they became suspicious after hearing the reported allegations about Dr. Bynon. They want to know if Mostacci was intentionally bumped off the transplant list.
“We saw him slipping away and there was nothing that we could do," said Suzy Garcia, Mostacci's mother. "And we trusted, we trusted the doctors.”
Mostacci needed a liver transplant because he had lupus.
Rodriguez, who died just days after Memorial Hermann put its liver transplant program on pause, needed a new liver because he was born with a genetic form of hepatitis. Rodriguez said the hospital did not help his dad get into another liver transplant program.
The families of Mostacci, Osuna and Rodriguez contacted lawyers to file a temporary restraining order against Dr. Bynon to prevent him from deleting or destroying critical evidence that could help show if their loved ones were improperly denied liver transplants.
They also want Memorial Hermann to acknowledge if the liver transplant list was manipulated.
Dr. Bynon has not been charged with a crime.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it's investigating the allegations.