A Florida surgeon now faces criminal charges after a fatal surgical error that prosecutors say led to the death of a 70-year-old patient. The case has triggered renewed scrutiny over medical malpractice, surgical oversight, and patient safety standards.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, was indicted by a grand jury on a second-degree manslaughter charge tied to the August 2024 death of Bill Bryan, a resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Authorities allege the surgeon removed the wrong organ during what should have been a routine procedure.
The incident occurred at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast in Florida. According to prosecutors, Shaknovsky was scheduled to perform a laparoscopic splenectomy, a procedure to remove the spleen. Instead, he mistakenly removed the patient’s liver. The error caused severe internal bleeding, and Bryan died during surgery.
Officials described the outcome as “catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table.”
Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, said the reality of the situation remains difficult to accept.
“When I tell people what happened, it still sounds too awful to be true that that could happen,” she said. “I still have trouble believing it happened myself. Can you imagine?”
Court records show Bryan initially visited the hospital with abdominal pain. Imaging suggested an enlarged spleen and internal bleeding, though no active hemorrhage was found. Over several days, Shaknovsky reportedly encouraged the patient to undergo surgery. The filing claims the doctor “continued to pressure” Bryan until he agreed.
During the procedure, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Prosecutors say Shaknovsky continued operating despite the emergency.
“Dr. Shaknovsky removed an organ he believed to be the spleen, but due to his shock and the chaos, he was unable to properly identify the organ,” the filing states.
After the operation, Shaknovsky reportedly attributed the death to a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. An autopsy later contradicted that claim. Investigators found no rupture, and the spleen remained intact. The liver, however, was missing.
Following the incident, medical regulators took swift action. Shaknovsky’s licenses were suspended in multiple states, including Florida and Alabama, with New York following in 2025. Alabama authorities later revoked his license entirely.
The case extends beyond a single incident. Regulatory filings accuse the surgeon of two additional malpractice cases in 2023. In one, he allegedly removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of the intended adrenal gland, leading to death. In another, he reportedly damaged a patient’s intestine, causing a perforation that proved fatal after the patient was moved to intensive care.
Public records show Shaknovsky settled one malpractice claim related to the 2023 incident for $400,000.
Bryan’s family also filed a civil lawsuit in 2025, accusing the doctor of wrongful death. That case remained unresolved at the time of his arrest.
“He would want his death to prevent someone else from being hurt, which is what I think the criminal charges being brought will do,” Beverly Bryan said. “If we had to suffer through this and he had to die, then at least no one else will be hurt by this man now.”
Despite the allegations, Shaknovsky has previously stated he had not been asked to resign or had his privileges revoked within the past decade, according to health department records.
The hospital where the surgery took place said patient safety remains its highest priority. In a statement, a spokesperson clarified that Shaknovsky was not an employee and has not practiced at its facilities since August 2024.
Authorities arrested Shaknovsky in Miramar Beach, Florida, earlier this week. He is being held ahead of a court appearance. It remains unclear whether he has secured legal representation.
