A Florida surgeon has been indicted after prosecutors say he removed the wrong organ during what was supposed to be a routine spleen surgery, triggering massive bleeding that killed a 70-year-old patient on the operating table.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, now faces a second-degree manslaughter charge tied to the death of William Bryan, an Alabama man who was visiting Florida with his wife when the medical nightmare unfolded.
The case has stunned investigators, devastated Bryan’s family, and raised fresh questions about surgical oversight and patient safety.
Vacation Turns Into Tragedy
William Bryan and his wife, Beverly, had traveled from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to check on their rental property in Okaloosa County, Florida, according to the family’s attorneys.
During the trip, Bryan reportedly developed pain on the left side of his body. The couple went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, where doctors identified a possible spleen issue.
Attorneys for the family said Bryan was admitted for further testing.
The Florida Department of Health later stated Bryan wanted to pursue medication management rather than surgery. However, officials alleged Shaknovsky “continued to pressure” the patient into undergoing a splenectomy despite Bryan “repeatedly” expressing that he did not want the operation.
Staff Raised Concerns Before Surgery
Authorities said Bryan was scheduled for a laparoscopic splenectomy on Aug. 21, 2024.
Investigators claim hospital staff were uneasy before the operation even began. According to the health department, team members worried the surgery was happening late in the day while only a limited crew was available.
The report said staff believed “splenectomies were complicated procedures that could quickly deteriorate and were not regularly performed” at the facility.
Officials also said Shaknovsky “arrived at the hospital approximately an hour late” for the 4 p.m. procedure.
Investigators Say Wrong Organ Was Removed
What happened next has become the center of the criminal case.
State investigators said Shaknovsky removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen.
The health department report stated, “Immediately after performing the dissection, Patient W.B. began to severely hemorrhage and went into cardiac arrest. Operating room staff members observed a significant amount of blood pouring out, immediately disrupting visibility in the field.”
Officials emphasized the two organs are not easily confused.
The report noted, “Spleens and livers are anatomically distinct, have different consistencies, and are different colors. Additionally, the spleen is located on the left side of the abdomen, while the liver is on the right side.”
It continued, “The staff looked at the readily identifiable liver on the table and were shocked when Dr. Shaknovsky told them that it was a spleen. One staff member felt sick to their stomach.”
Bryan was later pronounced dead.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said, “Dr. Shaknovsky removed the victim’s liver instead of his spleen, resulting in catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table.”
Medical Examiner Findings
After the surgery, authorities said Shaknovsky claimed Bryan died from a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm.
But the state said pathology results told a different story.
The Florida Department of Health said a pathologist confirmed the tissue removed was an intact liver.
Investigators added that the “medical examiner observed that patient W.B.’s spleen and its attachments were untouched and in the normal position, his liver was missing, and his inferior cava had been severed.”
The department further explained, “The vena cava is the largest vein in the body and brings deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart for new oxygen. The inferior vena cava connects the liver to the heart.”
“Additionally, the medical examiner noted that there was no evidence of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm,” the report proclaimed.
Officials alleged Shaknovsky dissected Bryan’s inferior vena cava, “resulting in the bleeding event that precipitated his death.”
Surgeon Cited ‘Shock and the Chaos’
According to investigators, the surgeon later offered an explanation for the fatal mistake.
“Dr. Shaknovsky claims that due to his shock and the chaos of the situation, he was unable to properly identify the organ he removed and assumed it must be the spleen,” according to the health department.
Grand Jury Moves Forward
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said, “The grand jury found probable cause to charge that the actions taken in the operating room constituted criminal conduct under Florida law.”
Shaknovsky was arrested in Miramar Beach and booked into the Walton County Jail.
Sheriff Michael Adkinson said, “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor.”
He added, “The grand jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process.”
Widow Speaks Out
Bryan’s widow said the loss still feels impossible to process.
“When I tell people what happened, it still sounds too awful to be true that that could happen.”
The family filed a civil lawsuit in January 2025 against both Shaknovsky and Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
Hospital Responds
A spokesperson for the hospital said, “Dr. Shaknovsky was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024.”
The spokesperson continued, “We remain focused on upholding the standards our patients and community expect of us.”
Other Surgical Cases Under Scrutiny
Authorities also pointed to two additional cases involving Shaknovsky.
In one 2023 surgery, a patient underwent an adrenalectomy. State records said, “During the surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky removed a portion of Patient G.D.’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland.”
A pathologist later confirmed the removed tissue was pancreatic tissue.
“In response to the allegations, Dr. Shaknovsky claimed that the adrenal gland had ‘migrated’ to a different part of the body,” the order said.
The state said the patient “suffered from long-term, permanent harm as a result of Dr. Shaknovsky’s error.”
Records show a $400,000 malpractice settlement was reached in August 2024.
Authorities also cited another patient death following a July 2023 procedure in which part of a patient’s intestine was removed, causing a gastrointestinal perforation. The patient later died after being transferred to intensive care.
Medical Licenses Suspended
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo ordered an emergency suspension of Shaknovsky’s Florida medical license in September 2024.
State records now list the license as “retired,” with an expiration date of March 31, 2026.
Public records also show his New York license was temporarily suspended in May 2025.
Officials in Alabama moved to suspend his license shortly after Bryan’s death. Reports later indicated Shaknovsky voluntarily surrendered that license.
He is scheduled for arraignment in Walton County Circuit Court on May 19.
