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Health Care

Heart Failure

The Decline of a Historic Transplant Program

ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle are investigating troubles at Baylor St. Luke’s in Houston, an illustrious heart program that has recently had some of the worst outcomes in the country.

Impact of Our Reporting
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Heart Failure

St. Luke’s to Suspend Heart Transplants After Recent Deaths

The move comes two weeks after ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle reported on pervasive problems in the historic heart program.

30 stories published since 2018

Texas Appeals Court Throws Out Defamation Lawsuit Against ProPublica, Houston Chronicle

Blistering Report Details Serious Safety Lapses at St. Luke’s in Houston

Numerous Mistakes Led to Fatal Blood Transfusion at St. Luke’s in Houston, Report Finds

Two New Lawsuits Allege Surgical Errors During Heart Transplants at St. Luke’s in Houston

St. Luke’s in Houston Replaces Its President, Other Top Leaders After Series of Care Lapses, Recent Deadly Error

An Unsigned Letter Alleged Mistakes During Heart Transplants at St. Luke’s. Now a Widow Is Suing.

As Houston Methodist’s Lung Program Grew, So Did Its Rate of Failed Transplants

As St. Luke’s Heart Program Faltered, Deaths After Liver and Lung Transplants Also Ticked Upward

Federal Inspectors Cite St. Luke’s in Houston for Problems in a Heart Transplant

St. Luke’s in Houston Replaces Heart Transplant Surgical Director After Program Loses Medicare Funding

“They’ve Got to Execute You”: St. Luke’s Doctor Faces Discipline After Raising Patient Care Concerns

Trump Administration Proposes Weakening Rules Governing Organ Transplant Centers

Heart Surgery “Legend” a Factor in Transplant Deaths, a St. Luke’s Colleague Told Inspector

Prominent Houston Judge Quits St. Luke’s Board After Heart Transplant Troubles Revealed

St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program to Lose Medicare Funding Today

Famed Houston Surgeon Updates Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures

For Most Common Heart Surgery, St. Luke’s Has Been Among the Nation’s Worst

Prominent Texas Surgeon Sues ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle

He Went In for a Heart Transplant. He Suffered Severe Brain Damage. Now His Family Is Suing St. Luke’s.

Supporters of a Famed Houston Surgeon Have Alleged Inaccuracies in Our Investigation. Here’s Our Response

Medicare to Terminate Funding for St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program in Houston

After Two-Week Review, St. Luke’s in Houston Reopens Its Heart Transplant Program

Patients Wait in Limbo as St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program Reviews Its Problems

A Pioneering Heart Surgeon’s Secret History of Research Violations, Conflicts of Interest and Poor Outcomes

Here’s How ProPublica Analyzed Bud Frazier’s Medicare Outcomes

A Death in Slow Motion

At St. Luke’s in Houston, Patients Suffer as a Renowned Heart Transplant Program Loses Its Luster

As Wait for New Heart Got Longer, Patient Grew Sicker

Help Us Investigate Care at the Texas Medical Center

Broken Hearts

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

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Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

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Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

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