Fla. Doctor Said He ‘Couldn’t Tell the Difference’ After Removal of Wrong Organ During Surgery That Ended in Patient’s Death

A Florida-based surgeon is facing serious legal consequences after being charged with second-degree manslaughter for allegedly removing the wrong organ during surgery, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old patient. Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is accused of erroneously excising William Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen, leading to critical complications that ultimately claimed Bryan’s life.

The tragic incident occurred in August 2024 when William Bryan, accompanied by his wife Beverly, sought medical attention for severe abdominal pain while visiting Okaloosa County, Florida. According to Beverly Bryan, the hospital’s surgical team, led by Dr. Shaknovsky, misidentified the organs during the procedure. In a recently published deposition, Shaknovsky disclosed that he was unable to distinguish between the liver and spleen amidst the stressful and urgent circumstances of the surgery.

During the deposition, which spanned over eight hours, the surgeon expressed immense regret over the events that unfolded. “It was an incredibly unfortunate event that I regret deeply,” he stated, acknowledging the fatal outcome of the surgery. He described the overwhelming pressure he experienced in trying to manage extensive bleeding during the operation, which led to Bryan’s heart stopping. “I couldn’t tell the difference because I was so upset,” Shaknovsky admitted, explaining his emotional state at the time.

The deposition further revealed that the surgeon perceived Bryan’s spleen to be abnormally large due to a mass, despite typical anatomical standards. Shaknovsky claimed that he believed the spleen was “double the size of what is normal,” even though Beverly Bryan later learned from a medical examiner that her husband’s spleen was “nearly normal” in size. This discrepancy is central to the allegations of medical malpractice detailed in Beverly’s lawsuit against Dr. Shaknovsky.

Following the procedure, Shaknovsky instructed a nurse to mislabel the excised liver as a spleen. In his postoperative notes, he referred to the removed organ as a spleen, raising further concerns about his actions during and after the surgery. “I was mentally compromised,” he remarked, indicating that his emotional distress impacted his professional judgement during the procedure and the subsequent documentation.

The shock and sorrow of the incident have left a lasting impact on not only William’s family but also on Dr. Shaknovsky himself. The surgeon spoke candidly about his feelings of devastation following Bryan’s death. “I went to the hospital’s library to cry because I was devastated,” he recalled, indicating the toll the incident has taken on his mental health. He expressed that the accident weighs heavily on his conscience, stating, “It’s a devastating thing, which I will have to live with the rest of my life.”

In light of these harrowing revelations, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office reported that a grand jury had formally indicted Dr. Shaknovsky on the charge of second-degree manslaughter. They recognised that the actions taken in the operating room amounted to criminal conduct under Florida law. Following the indictment, Shaknovsky was apprehended in Miramar Beach and subsequently placed in custody at the Walton County Jail.

Beverly Bryan’s lawsuit, in addition to alleging medical malpractice, suggests that Dr. Shaknovsky attempted to cover up his negligence by omitting any reference to the removal of her husband’s liver from his records. This claim highlights the family’s belief that the surgeon acted recklessly and without due diligence while treating William Bryan.

As this case unfolds, it raises significant questions about surgical protocols, accountability in medical practice, and the emotional burden faced by healthcare professionals when tragic errors occur. The outcome of both the legal proceedings against Dr. Shaknovsky and the civil lawsuit initiated by the Bryan family remain to be seen, but the ramifications of this tragic incident are poised to resonate within the community and the medical field for some time.