Florida Doctor Who ‘Mistakenly Removed’ Wrong Organ Charged With Manslaughter After Patient Dies of Severe Blood Loss

A Florida surgeon has been indicted after allegedly removing an Alabama man’s liver instead of his spleen during surgery.

Dr. Thomas J. Shaknovsky, 44, was indicted by a Walton County grand jury on April 13 on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the August 2024 death of William Bryan, 70.

“The indictment follows an extensive investigation conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Office of the State Attorney First Judicial Circuit and additional state and medical authorities,” officials said in a press release.

He was arrested on April 13 and later released on a $75,000 bond.

On August 21, 2024, Dr. Shaknovsky performed a scheduled laparoscopic splenectomy but mistakenly removed the patient’s liver instead of his spleen, causing catastrophic blood loss and leading to the patient’s death on the operating table.

The grand jury found probable cause to determine the actions in the operating room constituted criminal conduct under Florida law, the release said.

Dr. Shaknovsky was arrested in Miramar Beach on April 13 and was transported to the Walton County Jail.

“Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.

“The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss. We are committed to seeing this case through with the professionalism and integrity our community expects," Sheriff Michael Adkinson added.

The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) ordered the suspension of Dr. Shaknovsky's osteopathic physician license.

The surgeon previously removed a portion of a 58-year-old patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland in 2023.

In the case of Bryan, who consulted Dr. Shaknovsky for abdominal pain, he was advised to undergo surgical intervention after imaging revealed a suspected enlarged spleen.

The patient declined surgical intervention and expressed his wish to return home to Alabama, court documents said. “Dr. Shaknovsky continued to pressure the patient to proceed with surgical intervention and cited his declining hemoglobin, which had decreased only marginally over the past three days,” the documents said.

A laparoscopic splenectomy was scheduled at the Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach.

“Operating room (or) staff members noted that Dr. Shaknovsky scheduled the splenectomy and were concerned with it being done so late in the day since they only had a skeletal crew. Staff had concerns that Dr. Shaknovsky did not have the skill level to safely perform the procedure,” the documents said.

As the patient went into cardiac arrest and continued to hemorrhage, Shaknovsky admitted he fired a stapling device blindly into the abdomen in a last-ditch effort to stop the bleeding. He later removed an organ he believed was the spleen but said he was unable to properly identify it amid the chaos.

“Dr. Shaknovsky’s continued practice as an osteopathic physician presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the public,” State Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo said.

“A proceeding seeking formal discipline of the license will be promptly instituted and acted upon in compliance with sections 120.569 and 120.60(6), Florida Statutes (2024),” he added.

If found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, The Guardian reported.