A Florida surgeon has been indicted after prosecutors say he removed the wrong organ during a routine operation, triggering massive bleeding that killed a 70-year-old patient on the operating table.

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, now faces a charge of second-degree manslaughter in the death of William Bryan, an Alabama resident who was visiting Florida with his wife when the medical emergency unfolded.

The case has stunned both legal and medical circles, with investigators alleging a fatal chain of errors inside the operating room.

Vacation Turns Into Tragedy

William Bryan and his wife, Beverly, had traveled to their rental property in Okaloosa County when he began suffering pain on the left side of his body.

They went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, where Bryan was admitted after doctors identified a possible issue involving his spleen.

According to investigators, Bryan preferred medication management rather than surgery. Authorities say, however, that Shaknovsky allegedly pushed for an operation to remove the spleen despite Bryan repeatedly expressing hesitation.

Surgery Staff Raised Concerns

Bryan was scheduled for a laparoscopic splenectomy on Aug. 21, 2024.

State investigators said operating room staff worried the surgery was being performed late in the day with only a reduced crew available. They also noted that splenectomies were complex procedures not commonly handled at the facility.

Officials further said Shaknovsky arrived roughly an hour late for the 4 p.m. surgery.

Investigators Say Wrong Organ Was Removed

Authorities allege the surgeon removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen.

The Florida Department of Health report stated, “Immediately after performing the dissection, Patient W.B. began to severely hemorrhage and went into cardiac arrest. Operating room staff members observed a significant amount of blood pouring out, immediately disrupting visibility in the field.”

The report added, “Spleens and livers are anatomically distinct, have different consistencies, and are different colors. Additionally, the spleen is located on the left side of the abdomen, while the liver is on the right side.”

It continued, “The staff looked at the readily identifiable liver on the table and were shocked when Dr. Shaknovsky told them that it was a spleen. One staff member felt sick to their stomach.”

Bryan was later pronounced dead.

Sheriff Details Criminal Allegations

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said, “Dr. Shaknovsky removed the victim’s liver instead of his spleen, resulting in catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table.”

Investigators said Shaknovsky initially told staff the patient died from a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm.

But state officials said a pathologist confirmed the organ removed was an intact liver.

The report revealed that the “medical examiner observed that patient W.B.’s spleen and its attachments were untouched and in the normal position, his liver was missing, and his inferior cava had been severed.”

The health department pointed out, “The vena cava is the largest vein in the body and brings deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart for new oxygen. The inferior vena cava connects the liver to the heart.”

“Additionally, the medical examiner noted that there was no evidence of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm,” the report proclaimed.

The report claimed that Shaknovsky dissected Bryan’s inferior vena cava, “resulting in the bleeding event that precipitated his death.”

“Dr. Shaknovsky claims that due to his shock and the chaos of the situation, he was unable to properly identify the organ he removed and assumed it must be the spleen,” according to the health department.

Grand Jury Speaks

The sheriff’s office stated, “The grand jury found probable cause to charge that the actions taken in the operating room constituted criminal conduct under Florida law.”

Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said, “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor.”

Adkinson added, “The grand jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process.”

Shaknovsky was arrested in Miramar Beach and taken to the Walton County Jail.

He is scheduled for arraignment in Walton County Circuit Court on May 19.

Widow Describes Horror

Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, said, “When I tell people what happened, it still sounds too awful to be true that that could happen.”

Her family later filed a civil lawsuit against Shaknovsky and the hospital.

Hospital Responds

A spokesperson for Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast said, “Dr. Shaknovsky was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024.”

The spokesperson continued, “We remain focused on upholding the standards our patients and community expect of us.”

Other Surgical Incidents Under Review

Authorities say this was not the only troubling case tied to the doctor.

In May 2023, a 58-year-old patient underwent surgery for adrenal gland removal. State records said, “During the surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky removed a portion of Patient G.D.’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland.”

A pathologist later determined the tissue removed came from the pancreas, not the adrenal gland.

“In response to the allegations, Dr. Shaknovsky claimed that the adrenal gland had ‘migrated’ to a different part of the body,” the order said.

Officials said the patient “suffered from long-term, permanent harm as a result of Dr. Shaknovsky’s error.”

Florida records show a $400,000 malpractice settlement tied to that case in August 2024.

Authorities also cited another patient death after a July 2023 procedure in which part of a patient’s intestine was allegedly removed, causing a perforation.

Medical Licenses Suspended

Florida’s surgeon general ordered the emergency suspension of Shaknovsky’s license in September 2024.

State records now list the license as retired, with expiration dated March 31, 2026.

Public records also show his New York license was temporarily suspended in May 2025. Alabama authorities likewise moved to suspend his credentials after Bryan’s death.