A Florida surgeon mistakenly removed a man’s liver instead of his spleen, causing him to die on the operating table, according to a lawyer representing the man’s widow. William Bryan, 70, underwent surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Miramar, Florida, due to spleen abnormalities. The surgeon, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, performed a laparoscopic splenectomy but inadvertently removed the liver, leading to deadly consequences. This mistake was only discovered after the man’s death.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Bryan’s death to determine if any criminal activity took place. Bryan and his wife were persuaded to have the surgery in Florida by the medical staff at the hospital, despite their initial reluctance. Shaknovsky and the hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr. Christopher Bacani, were involved in discussions about Bryan’s treatment. The surgeon had previously made a similar mistake in a different case in 2023, leading to a private settlement.
Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, is seeking justice for her husband’s death and pushing for both criminal and civil proceedings against Shaknovsky. She does not want him to perform any more surgeries. The attorney representing her aims to hold the surgeon accountable for his actions and ensure that similar mistakes do not occur in the future. Both Dr. Shaknovsky and Dr. Bacani have active medical licenses, according to records from the Florida Board of Medicine.
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