Nurses Warned Before Surgery—Now Surgeon Who Removed Wrong Organ Faces Manslaughter
- Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, was indicted on second-degree manslaughter charges after allegedly removing a 70-year-old patient's liver instead of his spleen during a 2024 surgery at a Florida hospital, resulting in catastrophic blood loss and death on the operating table.
- The victim's wife, a registered nurse, was initially told her husband died from a ruptured spleen. An autopsy later revealed the spleen was untouched and the liver had been removed. OR staff reportedly raised concerns about the surgeon's competence before the procedure began.
- Shaknovsky faces up to 15 years in prison and has had his medical licenses suspended in Florida, Alabama, and New York. The case raises critical questions about surgical safety protocols and nurse advocacy in the OR.
A Florida surgeon has been indicted on manslaughter charges after allegedly removing a patient's liver instead of his spleen during a routine surgery, causing the patient to bleed to death on the operating table.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, of Destin, Florida, was arrested on Monday and charged with second-degree manslaughter in the August 2024 death of William "Bill" Bryan, a 70-year-old Navy veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Shaknovsky was released on $75,000 bond after his first court appearance on Tuesday.
The case has drawn sharp attention from the nursing community, in part because Bryan's wife, Beverly, is a registered nurse who was initially told her husband died from a ruptured spleen. She later learned the truth from autopsy results.
What Happened During the Surgery
On August 21, 2024, Bryan was scheduled for a laparoscopic splenectomy at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida. According to prosecutors, what happened next was far from routine.
Shaknovsky allegedly converted the minimally invasive procedure to an open surgery without proper documentation, then blindly fired a stapling device into the patient's abdomen. At one point during the operation, he reportedly told staff, "That's scary," after feeling a pulsing vessel.
Bryan died on the operating table from catastrophic blood loss. An autopsy later revealed that his spleen and its attachments were completely untouched and in their normal position. His liver, however, was missing entirely.
Prosecutors allege that Shaknovsky told staff the cause of death was a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm and insisted the removed organ be labeled as a "spleen" for pathology. The medical examiner found no evidence to support his claim. According to a civil lawsuit, the person responsible for labeling the organ reportedly knew it was not a spleen but followed the surgeon's instructions.
Perhaps most troubling for nurses: OR staff reportedly had concerns before the surgery even began that Shaknovsky lacked the skill for the procedure. They also raised issues about surgical timing and insufficient staffing.
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A Pattern of Alleged Surgical Errors
The manslaughter charge is not the only allegation against Shaknovsky. Court filings detail at least two other incidents of alleged malpractice.
In a separate case, Shaknovsky allegedly removed part of a patient's pancreas instead of the patient's adrenal gland during a routine surgery. When confronted about the error, he reportedly claimed the adrenal gland had "migrated" to another location. That patient suffered permanent, long-term harm.
In another case, the Florida Board of Medicine accused Shaknovsky of performing a bowel resection instead of a scheduled ileostomy, resulting in a perforation and the patient's death.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo stated that Shaknovsky's "continued practice constitutes an immediate, serious danger" to patients. His Florida medical license was suspended in September 2024, he voluntarily surrendered his Alabama license in November 2024, and his New York license was suspended in 2025.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a statement: "Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor. The Grand Jury has spoken." He added that his thoughts remain with the victim's family.
If convicted, Shaknovsky faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast stated that Shaknovsky "was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee," suggesting he held surgical privileges at the facility but was not directly employed by the hospital.
This case is a stark reminder of why nurses in the operating room are so much more than assistants. They are the last line of defense for patient safety.
Reports indicate that OR staff had concerns about Shaknovsky's competence before the fatal surgery, but it remains unclear whether those concerns were formally escalated. Retired OR nurse Doreen Cherf, who spent 42 years in the operating room, questioned whether staff spoke up, saying, "I feel that somebody in management should have been notified if the staff was concerned before the surgery ever started."
This case also highlights the importance of proper surgical safety checklists, timeouts, and organ verification protocols. If an organ is being removed, every member of the surgical team has a role in confirming the correct site and the correct organ. When those systems break down, or when a surgeon overrides them, lives are at stake.
🤔 Have you ever been in a situation where you felt pressured not to speak up during a procedure? How did you handle it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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