Dr. John Bynon Jr.’s attorney spoke as they left the federal courthouse on Thursday, proclaiming his client’s innocence without explaining what may have happened.

HOUSTON — A Houston doctor is facing federal charges for allegedly falsifying medical records to make potential transplant recipients ineligible for organ donations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The DOJ said John Stevenson Bynon Jr., 66, has surrendered to federal authorities on five counts of making false statements in health care matters. He was due in court at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The DOJ said a grand jury returned the indictment on January 14.

Bynon is the former director of abdominal organ transplantation and surgical director for liver transplantation at Memorial Hermann Health System in the Texas Medical Center.

The DOJ accused Bynon of falsifying the medical records of some of his patients who were on the United Network for Organ Sharing liver transplant waitlist to make them “functionally ineligible for a donation.”

“Many patients remained ineligible for months without knowing they could not receive organ offers during that time,” the DOJ said in a news release.

The department said some of the doctor’s patients “had dire health outcomes.”

“Falsely manipulating organ transplant eligibility endangers lives and undermines the integrity of our health care system,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General.

The DOJ said two of Bynon’s patients who sought care at other facilities were ultimately able to receive transplants.

“Dr. Bynon is alleged to have betrayed the most sacred duty of a medical professional–to heal,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “According to the indictment, he stole years and hope from those who trusted him most.”

The Memorial Hermann transplant program was suspended for a period of time during the investigation. 

According to the DOJ, the indictment claims that “Bynon’s unilateral decision-making and false statements” led to patients receiving care paid through Medicare as though they were eligible for an organ donation.

While leaving the federal courthouse Thursday, Dr. Bynon’s attorney proclaimed his client’s innocence, but didn’t offer an explanation of what happened.

“We look forward to clearing his name in a court of law and educating frankly the government on the medical concepts that undergird this totally, totally misguided prosecution.  We’ll have more to say about it.

Back in 2024, we spoke to family members of patients who allegedly had their medical records falsified by Dr. Bynon. Three of them died, the families say either waiting for a liver transplant or because of the delay. 

They say when Dr. Bynon allegedly falsified the records, they were kicked off the waiting list, allowing their conditions to progress and get worse. 

Bynon could face up to 25 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for each of the five counts if convicted.

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