A Florida surgeon mistakenly removed a man’s liver instead of his spleen during surgery, causing the man, William Bryan, to die on the operating table. The incident occurred at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Miramar, Florida, where Bryan underwent surgery for spleen abnormalities. The wrongful removal of the liver resulted in immediate and catastrophic blood loss leading to Bryan’s death. The surgeon, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, labeled the removed liver specimen as a spleen, only realizing the mistake after the patient’s death.
Bryan and his wife were visiting Florida when he experienced left-sided flank pain and was admitted to the hospital. Despite initially being reluctant to undergo surgery, Bryan and his wife were convinced by the medical staff that leaving could lead to serious complications. The surgeons involved, Shaknovsky and Dr. Christopher Bacani, appeared to discuss Bryan’s treatment.
It was revealed that Shaknovsky had made a similar mistake in the past, settling a case privately in 2023. Beverly Bryan, William’s widow, is pushing for both criminal and civil proceedings against the surgeons involved to prevent future surgical errors. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death to determine if any criminal activity occurred.
Beverly Bryan does not want Dr. Shaknovsky to perform any further surgeries, and her attorney is seeking justice for the Bryan family. While most doctors provide excellent care, cases like this highlight the importance of holding negligent medical professionals accountable. Dr. Shaknovsky and Dr. Bacani both have active medical licenses, according to records from the Florida Board of Medicine.
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