Miramar Beach, FL ( The Clarity Times) – A routine surgery turned into a deadly disaster when a Florida surgeon mistakenly removed a man’s liver instead of his spleen, resulting in his immediate death.
William Bryan, 70, was on vacation in Florida when he experienced severe abdominal pain and sought treatment at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital. Doctors diagnosed an issue with his spleen and recommended emergency surgery to prevent further complications.
However, during the procedure on August 21, 2024, surgeon Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky allegedly removed Bryan’s liver by mistake. The error caused catastrophic blood loss, leading to Bryan’s immediate death on the operating table, according to the family’s lawyer.
Shaknovsky reportedly labeled the liver as the spleen, only realizing the fatal mistake after the patient’s death.
Bryan’s widow, Beverly, has filed a lawsuit and is seeking justice, condemning both the surgeon and the hospital for allowing such a tragedy to occur. The hospital has since removed all references to Dr. Shaknovsky from its website and is conducting an internal investigation.
The incident follows a previous allegation of “wrong-site surgery” involving the same doctor, raising concerns about patient safety under his care.
