Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky removes a deceased man’s liver, not his spleen: Lawyer
The family of 70-year-old William Bryan claims that surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky removed his liver but not his spleen during an operation that he did not survive due to massive blood loss.
The family of an Alabama man said 70-year-old William Bryan died after his liver was accidentally removed during a medical procedure at a Florida hospital where Bryan had his spleen removed.
Bryan went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Walton County, Florida, on Aug. 18 to undergo a splenectomy, according to a surgical report obtained by USA TODAY from Joe Zarzaur, the Bryan family’s attorney.
Thomas Shaknovsky, a surgeon at the hospital, performed the procedure after discussing the “risks, benefits and alternatives” with Bryan and his wife, Beverly, the operative report states. After the procedure was completed, Bryan’s liver was removed instead of removing his spleen as was planned, according to a surgical pathology report Zarzaur provided to USA TODAY.
“I have the pleasure of representing Ms. Bryan and her family. Unfortunately, we are representing them in one of the most egregious cases of medical malpractice I have ever dealt with,” Zarzaur said during a press conference on Tuesday.
An Ascension spokesperson emailed a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday saying, “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and our leadership team is conducting a thorough investigation into this incident.”
“Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a long history of providing safe, high-quality care since the hospital opened in 2001,” the statement continued. “Patient safety is and will always be our top priority. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Our patients’ privacy is our highest priority. We do not comment on specific patient cases or ongoing litigation.”
Coroner finds during autopsy that spleen is still present in William Bryan’s body
Before the surgery, Zarzaur said Bryan was suffering from “severe abdominal pain” while on vacation with his wife at their home in Destin, Florida. Shaknovsky diagnosed him with hemoperitoneum and splenic laceration, or bleeding from the spleen, according to the surgical report.
Beverly Bryan initially wanted to wait to operate until the couple returned home to Alabama, but Shaknovsky told her that her husband would bleed to death if he was transported in his current condition, Zarzaur said.
During surgery on August 21, Bryan died of massive blood loss after the removal of the “large” spleen, according to the operative report.
“The case was discussed in detail with the patient’s wife and family and they were kept informed of any unfortunate developments,” the report continued. “All events related to the surgery were discussed with the family. All questions were answered.”
After the procedure, a pathologist determined that the removed organ labeled “spleen” was actually liver tissue, Zarzaur said. After Bryan’s autopsy, the medical examiner found his liver was missing and his spleen was still in his body with a cyst attached to it, the attorney said.
“The spleen had a small cyst that was causing bleeding, but it wasn’t a fatal problem,” Zarzaur said. “It was a pretty normal-looking cyst. It probably would have been very treatable.”
“They took him away from us”
Beverly Bryan spoke during Tuesday’s press conference, calling her husband of 33 years “such a good man.”
“I was fortunate to be the wife of William Bryan, also known as Bill Bryan, and I will always be grateful for the time I had with him,” she said. “We have three children (and) eight grandchildren and they are also grateful for the time they had with him.”
Beverly Bryan said her family is “heartbroken and angry that Bill is not here due to the incompetence of the doctors involved in the negligence of Ascension Hospital.”
“They took him away from us when he was lying on the operating table, completely helpless,” she said. “They removed his liver instead of his spleen, so of course he bled to death on the operating table.”
She called her husband’s death “unnecessary and brutal” and said her family and community in Alabama were “devastated.”
“He brought joy to every life he touched,” Beverly Bryan said of her husband. “He was the best husband and father I could have asked for… I will get through this and I will be strong for him because he deserves justice for this.”
Will Thomas Shaknovsky be held criminally and civilly liable?
As of Tuesday, no lawsuit had been filed because Florida law requires a six- to nine-month pretrial process before a formal medical malpractice claim can be filed in court, Zarzaur said. While Bryan’s family and Zarzaur intend to file a lawsuit, the current concern is that Shaknovsky may still be practicing medicine, the attorney said.
“This doctor was still treating patients and apparently still had access to hospitals and operating rooms, which I don’t think should be the case,” Zarzaur said. “Ms. Bryan obviously feels like he should never set foot in a hospital or operating room again.”
Zarzaur said it could take months for the medical board to revoke Shaknovsky’s license. The lawyer said he has also been in contact with people who told him they visited the surgeon in the last week.
Additionally, a criminal investigation into Bryan’s death is ongoing, Zarzaur said, adding that any questions about it should be directed to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office emailed USA TODAY a statement on the situation on Tuesday.
“The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Precinct 1 Coroner’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, is reviewing the facts surrounding the death of William Bryan to determine if any criminal activity occurred,” the statement said. “At this time, it would be inaccurate to say that charges have been filed.”
“Our office asks the public for patience as these cases are extremely complex and take time to investigate. The only reliable source of information on a criminal case is our office. At this time, all records related to this case are exempt from public release so as not to hinder an ongoing investigation.”
Thomas Shaknovsky involved in surgical failure in 2023
Another incident involving Shaknovsky was settled in 2023 when he attempted to remove a person’s adrenal gland but ended up removing part of the pancreas, Zarzaur said.
The case was settled for a confidential amount during the pretrial stage, so no lawsuit was filed against the surgeon or Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, the attorney said.
“It was swept under the rug,” he said. “Now we have a case after that.”
