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.
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.