09/20/2025
A lawsuit has been filed against a Florida doctor, Thomas Shaknovsky, who is accused of mistakenly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen during a surgery in August 2024. The patient, 70-year-old William “Bill” Bryan, was a veteran from Alabama who died on the operating table.
Key details of the case include:
The initial surgery: Bryan was visiting the Florida panhandle when he experienced abdominal pain. He was admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital for a suspected spleen issue. Dr. Shaknovsky performed a splenectomy, the surgical removal of the spleen.
The fatal mistake: According to court documents, Shaknovsky removed Bryan’s liver during the surgery, not his spleen. The liver and spleen are on opposite sides of the abdomen, and Shaknovsky allegedly misidentified the organ. This led to massive blood loss and Bryan’s death.
Alleged cover-up: Following Bryan’s death, Shaknovsky is accused of attempting to conceal the mistake. He allegedly instructed staff to label the removed organ as a “spleen,” and the hospital later filed falsified death records, according to the lawsuit.
Consequences for the doctor:
Medical license suspension: The Florida Surgeon General issued an emergency order on September 24, 2024, suspending Shaknovsky’s medical license. Alabama also temporarily suspended his license.
Criminal investigation: The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a criminal investigation into Bryan’s death.
Prior incidents: This was reportedly not Shaknovsky’s first “wrong-site” surgery. He is also accused of removing part of a patient’s pancreas instead of an adrenal gland in 2023, a case that was confidentially settled.
The family’s legal action: Beverly Bryan, the patient’s widow, filed a lawsuit against Shaknovsky, his practice, and the hospital system. She seeks justice for her husband and to prevent the doctor from harming other patients.
