A Florida surgeon is facing manslaughter charges and a wrongful death lawsuit after allegedly removing the wrong organ from a 70-year-old patient during what should have been a routine laparoscopic splenectomy. Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, admitted under oath that he mistook William Bryan’s liver for his spleen because he was “so upset” after the patient began bleeding out on the operating table. The catastrophic error led to immediate and massive blood loss, resulting in Bryan’s death on August 21, 2024, at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida.

William Bryan and his wife Beverly, from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, were vacationing in Florida when Bryan experienced severe stomach pain. He was admitted to the hospital where Shaknovsky and another doctor recommended surgery due to an abnormality in his spleen. What followed was a series of alleged mistakes that ended in tragedy.

According to court documents and Shaknovsky’s own deposition from November 2025, complications arose during the procedure. Bryan started bleeding from an unknown source, his enlarged colon obstructed visibility, and the surgical team had to perform chest compressions to restart his heart. In the chaos, Shaknovsky switched from the planned minimally invasive laparoscopic approach to open surgery. He then removed what he believed was the spleen — but it was actually the liver.

In an eight-hour deposition conducted by lawyers for Beverly Bryan, Shaknovsky offered an emotional explanation: “I can’t explain to you what it’s like for a surgeon to lose a patient on the table and how demoralizing it is… And I couldn’t tell the difference because I was so upset.” He described the event as “devastating,” something he thinks about “every single day” and that has left him “forever traumatized.”

After removing the organ, Shaknovsky allegedly instructed a nurse to label it as a spleen. The liver, which weighs significantly more than a spleen, was only identified correctly after Bryan’s death. The lawsuit claims Shaknovsky attempted to cover up the error by telling Beverly that her husband’s spleen was four times larger than normal and had somehow “migrated” to the other side of his body.

Investigators say Shaknovsky made multiple fatal errors. He failed to call for backup during the emergency, snipped and stapled major vessels around the liver causing catastrophic hemorrhaging, and did not properly manage the bleeding. Bryan went into cardiac arrest and could not be saved.

In April 2026, Shaknovsky was arrested while driving for Lyft and charged with second-degree manslaughter. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for arraignment on May 19. The Florida Department of Health has already stripped him of his medical license.

This is not the first time Shaknovsky has faced legal trouble. He previously settled a medical malpractice lawsuit involving the death of another 70-year-old patient who died of sepsis after he removed a mass during surgery.

Beverly Bryan’s malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit paints a picture of profound negligence and deception. The couple had been together for decades, enjoying retirement and travel. Bryan’s death turned their vacation into a nightmare. Beverly is now fighting for accountability, seeking justice for her husband and hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

Medical experts and patient safety advocates have expressed outrage over the case. Removing a liver instead of a spleen is considered virtually impossible for an experienced surgeon due to their vastly different locations, sizes, appearances, and functions. The spleen is in the upper left abdomen; the liver dominates the right side and is much larger. Critics argue that stress or complications do not excuse such a fundamental anatomical error.

Hospitals across the United States have protocols, checklists, and timeout procedures designed specifically to prevent “wrong-site” or “wrong-organ” surgeries. This case raises serious questions about whether those safeguards were followed at Ascension Sacred Heart. The hospital has not publicly commented in detail, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

Shaknovsky’s deposition reveals a doctor deeply affected by the outcome, yet his alleged attempts to mislead the patient’s widow have only intensified public anger. In one statement he said the incident would haunt him for the rest of his life — a sentiment that offers little comfort to Bryan’s grieving family.

The case highlights broader concerns in American healthcare: surgeon burnout, inadequate backup during complications, and accountability when mistakes turn fatal. Patient safety organizations note that while surgical errors are rare, their consequences are devastating, especially when followed by cover-up attempts.

As the criminal case proceeds, Beverly Bryan continues her civil suit. She wants answers, accountability, and changes that could protect other families from similar heartbreak. William Bryan went into surgery expecting to address a spleen issue and return to his wife. Instead, a preventable error — allegedly compounded by panic and poor judgment — ended his life.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder for patients and families: always seek second opinions for elective surgeries, ask detailed questions about the surgical team, and understand your rights. For medical professionals, it underscores the absolute necessity of calm decision-making, clear communication, and strict adherence to safety protocols even in high-stress moments.

William Bryan’s story is more than a medical mishap — it is a cautionary tale about trust, competence, and the human cost when those elements fail. As Shaknovsky faces both criminal charges and the lifelong weight of his admitted trauma, Bryan’s widow and loved ones are left with an irreplaceable loss that no deposition excuse can heal.