Florida Surgeon Faces Manslaughter Charges in Fatal Surgical Error
A Florida surgeon has been indicted for manslaughter following a catastrophic surgical error during an August 2024 procedure where he removed a patient's liver instead of his spleen, resulting in the patient's death on the operating table.
Details of the Fatal Operation
Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, of DeFuniak Springs, was indicted by a grand jury in Tallahassee on Monday. Prosecutors allege he botched the surgery of 70-year-old William Bryan, a Navy veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The procedure was supposed to be a laparoscopic splenectomy to address concerns about an abnormality of Bryan's spleen.
According to court documents and a press release from Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Shaknovsky instead removed Bryan's liver, leading to what authorities described as "catastrophic blood loss" and immediate death during the operation. The incident occurred at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach.
Investigation and License Suspension
Less than a month after Bryan's death, the Florida Department of Health issued an emergency order suspending Shaknovsky's medical license. The order, signed by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, detailed how Shaknovsky allegedly continued with the operation even after realizing his mistake.
Prosecutors stated that Shaknovsky told investigators he couldn't control an aneurysm that caused Bryan's chest cavity to fill with blood, but decided to complete what he believed was a splenectomy anyway, even after the patient had been in cardiac arrest for 15 minutes.
Family's Account and Legal Proceedings
Medical malpractice attorneys representing Bryan's family revealed additional disturbing details. Bryan and his wife Beverly were visiting their rental property in Okaloosa County when he began experiencing left-sided flank pain. Initially reluctant to have surgery in Florida, Bryan was persuaded by doctors who warned of serious complications if he left the hospital.
After the fatal procedure, Shaknovsky allegedly told Beverly Bryan that the "spleen" was so diseased it was four times larger than normal and had migrated to the other side of her husband's body. Court documents reveal he even labeled the removed liver specimen as a "spleen."
Legal Consequences and Professional Fallout
Shaknovsky was taken into custody in Miramar Beach on Monday morning and held at Walton County Jail ahead of his first court appearance. The grand jury found probable cause that his actions constituted criminal conduct under Florida law, returning an indictment for second-degree manslaughter, a second-degree felony.
If convicted, Shaknovsky faces up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He has also lost his medical licenses in Alabama and New York following Bryan's death. No attorney was listed for Shaknovsky at the time of the indictment.
Sheriff Adkinson emphasized that the investigation involved extensive cooperation between his office, the state attorney for Walton County, and state medical authorities. "Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor," Adkinson stated. "The grand jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process."
The case highlights serious concerns about surgical protocols and medical accountability, with authorities describing the outcome as an "unspeakable loss" for Bryan's family of 33 years.
