A Florida surgeon is facing a lawsuit following a fatal surgical mistake. The patient, 70-year-old William Bryan, died after his liver was mistakenly removed during a splenectomy.
The surgery took place in August 2024 at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital. Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky was performing the operation when he mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver, leading to massive blood loss.
Bryan, suffering from abdominal pain, was diagnosed with a spleen abnormality. After initial hesitation, he and his wife were convinced by the medical team that surgery was essential.
During the procedure, Dr. Shaknovsky allegedly mistook the liver for the spleen. He later explained to Bryan’s wife that the organ had become diseased and had migrated, a claim refuted posthumously.
Beverly Bryan has filed a lawsuit against both Dr. Shaknovsky and the hospital. The suit accuses them of gross negligence and malpractice, demanding accountability.
Concerns about Dr. Shaknovsky’s competence have emerged, as he was involved in a similar surgical error in 2023. In that case, part of a patient’s pancreas was mistakenly removed.
This lawsuit seeks both civil and criminal penalties. The case has intensified scrutiny on the hospital and its practices, with potential repercussions for the healthcare system involved.
