Florida Surgeon Manslaughter: Grand Jury Indicts Doctor After Liver Removed Instead of Spleen

Florida surgeon manslaughter case shocks medical community

A Walton County grand jury has indicted Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky on a second‑degree manslaughter charge after a botched operation claimed the life of 70‑year‑old William Bryan.

Bradford, Alabama resident Bryan was slated for a laparoscopic splenectomy in August. Instead, Shaknovsky opened his abdomen, sliced a major vein with a stapling device, and mistakenly excised a portion of the healthy liver, leaving the spleen untouched. The patient bled to death, a tragedy ↓ 1 fatality that prompted a multi‑agency investigation.

Legal fallout and medical oversight

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, in concert with the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Health, compiled evidence that led to the indictment. State officials say the error reflects a breach of surgical protocol and raises questions about credentialing practices.

“The loss of a senior citizen in such a preventable manner is unacceptable,” a spokesperson for the Florida Board of Medicine told Reuters.

Authorities are reviewing Shaknovsky’s prior case history while the hospital faces potential civil suits. The incident arrives amid broader scrutiny of surgical safety nationwide, echoing concerns highlighted in recent nuclear facility oversight reports.

For further details, see coverage by AP News.