The family of William Bryan, a 70-year-old Alabama resident, is suing Florida surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky for medical malpractice, alleging he mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen, leading to his death. This incident marks the second time in two years Shaknovsky has been accused of removing the wrong organ.
Bryan and his wife, Beverly, were visiting their Florida rental property when Bryan experienced left-sided pain. He was admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Walton County with suspected spleen issues. The lawsuit, filed by Zarzaur Law, claims Shaknovsky and chief medical officer Christopher Bacani urged the family to proceed with surgery at the hospital, emphasizing the urgency of Bryan’s condition.
On August 21, 2024, Shaknovsky performed a laparoscopic splenectomy. However, the procedure allegedly resulted in the removal of Bryan’s liver and the severing of its major blood supply, causing fatal blood loss. The liver is typically located on the right side of the body and significantly larger than the spleen, which sits on the left. Despite this, the lawsuit alleges Shaknovsky labeled the removed organ as a spleen, claiming it had migrated and enlarged due to disease. The organ’s true identity was reportedly confirmed only after Bryan’s death, with the autopsy revealing an intact spleen with a small cyst.
This is not the first time Shaknovsky has faced such accusations. The lawsuit alleges that in 2023, he mistakenly removed part of a patient’s pancreas during a procedure intended to remove the adrenal gland. This prior incident reportedly resulted in a confidential settlement. According to the lawsuit, Shaknovsky remains employed by Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital.
The hospital issued a statement to NBC News confirming an internal investigation into Bryan’s death, emphasizing patient safety as their top priority and declining further comment due to patient privacy and ongoing litigation. Walton County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney, is also investigating the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death to determine if any criminal acts occurred.
Bryan’s family is seeking both criminal and civil charges against Shaknovsky, aiming to prevent him from performing surgery again.
In a statement provided by her lawyers, Beverly Bryan said, “My husband died helpless on the operating room table because of 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.”
The Bryan family’s pursuit of justice highlights the devastating consequences of medical malpractice and the importance of accountability within the healthcare system.
