A Florida-based surgeon is facing a civil lawsuit after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen, leading to the patient’s death. The lawsuit was filed by Beverly Bryan, the widow of the deceased patient, 70-year-old William Bryan, who was a resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The couple was vacationing at their rental property in Okaloosa County, Florida, when William began experiencing severe pain in his left side.
The Bryans sought medical attention at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast (ASHEC) hospital in Florida. Following tests that indicated an abnormal spleen, William was advised to undergo an emergency laparoscopic splenectomy to prevent serious complications. However, the lawsuit alleges that during the procedure, surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky mistakenly removed William’s liver, leading to his death.
The lawsuit further alleges that Shaknovsky attempted to cover up his mistake by insisting that he had removed the spleen, not the liver. He reportedly maintained this assertion despite medical records indicating extensive blood loss, blood transfusion, and cardiac arrest. The pathology report later confirmed that the organ removed was indeed the liver, not the spleen.
The lawsuit also claims that this was not Shaknovsky’s first surgical error. It alleges that the surgeon had previously caused the death of another patient by accidentally perforating the patient’s bowel during a gall bladder removal. Following that incident, Shaknovsky reportedly took a leave of absence.
The plaintiffs argue that by October 2023, ASHEC and Ascension should have been aware of Shaknovsky’s alleged negligence and should have revoked his surgical privileges. Despite this, the lawsuit alleges that Shaknovsky was allowed to continue operating unrestricted, partly due to the revenue he generated for the hospital.
The lawsuit also alleges that Shaknovsky was involved in several other botched surgeries, including a wrong-site hernia operation. It further claims that Shaknovsky often used religious symbols and concepts to deflect conversations about surgical complications.
The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages exceeding $50,000. Their attorney, Joe Zarzaur, stated that the family is seeking justice for their devastating loss and is committed to holding the responsible parties accountable for their alleged negligence.