The motive for the alleged data manipulation is unknown.
The Chronicle notes that Memorial Hermann has seen increasing numbers of liver transplant candidates die or become too sick for a transplant while on the waitlist. According to federal data, in 2021, only four patients died or got too sick for a transplant while on the hospital’s liver transplant waiting list. In 2022, the number increased to 11, and in 2023, it was 14. So far this year, there are five patients who have died or gotten too sick while waiting.
Yea I don’t think we’re getting the whole story here. I’m very certain that the hospital knew that records were being manipulated. The sheer number of people who have to look at and interact with a patient’s chart guarantees that others knew of the manipulation occuring. The whole “restructuring” comment is not a good look either. I hope the whole system is sued into oblivion.
I have a gut feeling that he may have been practicing bigotry against some demographic or other. Possibly an “out group” like obese people. Wouldn’t surprise me if others in the system turned a blind eye to it. I hope I’m wrong about this.
Also, having worked in a hospital previously, some surgeons are revered as gods. I’ve seen it.
It’s not impossible but a popular theory in medical circles is that he was trying to steer transplants to patients that he thought would have a higher success rate. Surgeons are judged based on their patient outcome statistics and their bonuses are tied to it as well.
That would make sense. You’d think they would weight those numbers, since they are always being evaluated. Maybe this case will spark some changes, since hospitals are always in CYA mode.