Florida Doctor Killed Patient by Removing Liver Instead of Spleen | The Case of Thomas Shaknovsky

On August 21, 2024, 70-year-old William Bryan, an Alabama native, tragically died during surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Florida. What was supposed to be a routine splenectomy to remove his spleen went catastrophically wrong when Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver instead. The resulting blood loss led to his immediate death on the operating table.

Bryan had initially gone to the hospital with severe left-sided abdominal pain. After tests showed an abnormality with his spleen, doctors advised immediate surgery. Bryan was hesitant to proceed in Florida as he wanted to go home to his normal doctor, but he was ultimately persuaded to stay by the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Christopher Bacani, and Dr. Shaknovsky. The surgery was meant to be a life-saving laparoscopic procedure to remove his spleen. However, once inside, Dr. Shaknovsky mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver, causing what the family’s attorney, Joe Zarzaur, described as 

“immediate and catastrophic blood loss.”

Shaknovsky even labeled the liver as the “spleen” in his post-op notes, only for an autopsy to later reveal that Bryan’s liver was missing and his spleen was still intact with a small cyst, the very issue that had caused his initial pain.

This is not the first time Dr. Shaknovsky has been involved in a wrong-site surgery. In 2023, he mistakenly removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of their adrenal gland during surgery. That case was settled confidentially, allowing Shaknovsky to continue practicing at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, where Bryan later became his tragic second victim.

William Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, has retained attorney Joe Zarzaur to represent the family. They plan to file a medical malpractice lawsuit and are pushing for a criminal investigation. Beverly expressed her outrage, stating, 

“My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky. I don’t want anyone else to die due to his incompetence at a hospital that should have known or knew he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical mistakes.”

Florida law requires a six- to nine-month pre-suit process before a formal medical malpractice case can be filed. The hospital, in a statement, noted that they are conducting a full investigation into the incident but have not commented further due to confidentiality laws.

“We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a longstanding history of providing safe, quality care since the hospital opened its doors in 2003. Patient safety is and remains our number one priority. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family. We hold the privacy of our patients in the highest regard. We do not comment on specific patient cases or active litigation.”

As of now, no criminal charges have been filed against Dr. Shaknovsky, but the Walton County Sheriff’s Office has stated that they are reviewing the case for potential criminal wrongdoing in conjunction with the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney.

“Walton County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office and Office of the State Attorney is reviewing the facts involving the death of William Bryan to determine if anything criminal took place. At this time, it would be incorrect to say criminal charges have been filed.”

This case has raised concerns about patient safety and the oversight of medical professionals with troubling histories. Bryan’s death, compounded by Shaknovsky’s history of wrong-site surgeries, has brought the issue of surgical errors and accountability to the forefront, prompting both a legal and criminal investigation.

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The Bryan family hopes that this case will prevent future tragedies and ensure that no other family endures such an unimaginable loss. As investigations continue, many are left questioning how such an egregious mistake could have happened twice, under the care of the same doctor.

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