Man waiting 6 years for kidney learns program is suspended, his doctor under investigation

In Houston, Texas, a Bryan-College Station resident endured a six-year wait for a new kidney, only to receive devastating news last week: his transplant program at Memorial Hermann Hospital had been suspended.

Shawn Lawson, a father of four and new grandfather, had lost both kidneys to cancer. To survive, he undergoes 3.5 hours of dialysis each morning.

“It was 2018 when I got on the actual list, and now it’s 2024,” Lawson shared.

Reports from The New York Times revealed allegations against Dr. Steve John Bynon, who oversaw Lawson’s kidney transplant program, accusing him of manipulating a database to prevent certain patients from receiving new livers.

“It makes you feel like someone is playing with your life,” Lawson expressed.

Partially blind due to unrelated medical issues, Lawson relied on family members to drive him four hours roundtrip from Bryan-College Station to Memorial Hermann for the past six years. Now, he questions if the visits were worthwhile.

While the hospital maintained that concerns were raised only regarding the liver transplant program, both the liver and kidney transplant programs were suspended last week.

More than 300 patients, including Lawson, were affected by the program’s suspension. Memorial Hermann stated that each patient would be individually contacted by a transplant care coordinator to discuss ongoing care options and a potential transition to another transplant program.

However, Lawson disclosed that he had only received a vague phone call notifying him of the program’s suspension, with promised follow-up information yet to materialize in a letter.

Feeling distrustful of the transplant program, Lawson is exploring options with his medical team and is actively pursuing listing at St. Luke’s and Houston Methodist. Despite the uncertainty and potential further delay in receiving a transplant, he remains focused on maintaining his health and positivity.

“As a Black man, my children look up to me every day. It’s important for me to stay positive,” Lawson emphasized.