Florida Doctor Killed Patient With Wrong Organ Removal, Then Fled To Become A Cab Driver For Lyft

A doctor in Florida was arrested on April 13 in connection with a surgical procedure performed in August 2024 that resulted in the death of a 70-year-old patient. Authorities allege that during a laparoscopic splenectomy, the surgeon removed the patient’s liver instead of the spleen, leading to severe bleeding.

Following the incident, the doctor later worked as a driver for Lyft, where he reportedly received a five-star rating.

Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, is accused of removing the liver of his 70-year-old patient, William Bryan, during a scheduled splenectomy. According to court documents, the patient died after the doctor allegedly opted for a more invasive open approach to the procedure.

Shaknovsky cited poor visibility, which, according to filings, led to a series of errors. He allegedly snipped and stapled blood vessels connected to the liver, causing severe hemorrhaging that was followed by cardiac arrest.

Court records further allege that the doctor continued the procedure as the patient’s condition deteriorated and did not attempt resuscitation. He ultimately removed the organ, weighing about 4.6 pounds, reportedly mistaking it for the spleen.

The wrong surgery led to the patient’s death on the operating table. Instead of acknowledging his mistake, the doctor claimed that Bryan had died from a splenic artery aneurysm. It was only after the 70-year-old’s widow filed a lawsuit that his death was formally identified as a homicide, caused by the removal of his liver during a splenectomy.

Reports also indicated that Shaknovsky had pressured Bryan into undergoing the procedure in the first place. The elderly man had expressed a desire to return home, but ultimately gave in to the doctor’s insistence. Following the fatal error, Shaknovsky’s medical license was immediately revoked.

After the incident, the disgraced Florida doctor took up a new profession, working as a driver for Lyft. He had spent over a year in his new role, where he reportedly performed well and even maintained a five-star rating.

On April 13, officers from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office finally apprehended him near Miramar Beach, Florida. Shaknovsky was in the middle of a routine trip with two passengers in his Mitsubishi when deputies pulled him over, removed him from the vehicle, and pinned him against the passenger-side window before placing him in handcuffs.

The passengers were initially startled by the sudden apprehension and later left shocked upon learning the truth. They said they had been picked up from their hotel and, when the vehicle was stopped, initially mistook the armed officers for robbers. After being informed of the situation, one passenger remarked, “That scared the c**p out of us. We’re not using Lyft again. From now on, we’re using Uber.”

Shaknovsky was charged with first-degree manslaughter and is scheduled to be arraigned in connection with Bryan’s death on May 19. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

He is also facing a pending medical negligence lawsuit filed by another victim’s family. In that case, he allegedly failed to prevent sepsis in a 70-year-old patient, Dorothy Dorsett.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Lyft confirmed that Shaknovsky had been removed from the platform with immediate effect.