All articles tagged with #organ allocation
The US liver transplant system updated its MELD 3.0 scoring model in 2023 to address a sex bias that disadvantaged women. While the new model adds points for female candidates to account for lower muscle mass, early data shows the gains are temporary. Experts argue that the core issue is not just the score, but the physical size of the organs, which often does not fit smaller female recipients.
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston has suspended its liver and kidney transplant programs after discovering that a doctor had made inappropriate changes to a database for liver transplant patients, rendering them ineligible for new organs. The hospital did not name the doctor, but the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston defended Dr. Steve Bynon, who is contracted to Memorial Hermann. The allegations have raised concerns about fairness, transparency, and accountability in the organ allocation system, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is addressing the matter. The hospital is working to ensure affected patients receive necessary care and is collaborating with UTHealth Houston to reactivate the program under different leadership.