A case in Florida has drawn national attention after a surgical procedure ended in a fatal error, leading to criminal charges against a physician.
William Bryan, a 70-year-old man from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, underwent a planned laparoscopic procedure on August 21, 2024, at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach. The surgery was intended to address severe abdominal pain linked to an issue believed to involve his spleen.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, performed the operation. However, authorities allege that during the procedure, the wrong organ was removed. Instead of the spleen, the patient’s liver was taken out, resulting in severe internal bleeding that led to cardiac arrest and death.
According to statements from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the case was later reviewed by a grand jury, which found probable cause to bring a second-degree manslaughter charge against the surgeon.
In a deposition given in November 2025, Shaknovsky stated that he was unable to distinguish between the organs during the procedure, describing the situation as chaotic while attempting to control bleeding. He also reported experiencing emotional distress afterward.
Court filings from a civil lawsuit allege that the removed organ was labeled incorrectly following the procedure, and documentation reflected it as the intended organ.
Shaknovsky was arrested on April 13 while working as a rideshare driver and has since pleaded not guilty.
The case continues to raise serious questions about surgical safety, oversight, and accountability in high-risk medical procedures.
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