In a shocking medical mishap, a Florida surgeon mistakenly removed a man's liver instead of his spleen during a surgery, leading to his untimely death on the operating table. The widow of the deceased has filed a lawsuit, alleging negligence and demanding justice for her husband's tragic loss.

The incident took place at the Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Florida. William Bryan had been admitted to the hospital for further evaluation, and despite initial reluctance, he and his wife, Beverly Bryan, agreed to proceed with the surgery as advised by Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a general surgeon, and Dr. Christopher Bacani, the hospital's chief medical officer.

According to Beverly Bryan's lawyer, Joe Zarzaur, both Shaknovsky and Bacani were actively involved in discussions regarding Bryan's treatment. Tragically, during the surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky removed William Bryan's liver instead of his spleen, causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss that led to his death. It was only discovered after his passing that the organ removed was actually Bryan's liver, mistakenly labeled as a spleen.

Zarzaur further revealed that Dr. Shaknovsky had informed Beverly Bryan that her husband's spleen was severely diseased and had moved to the other side of his body. However, it is widely known that the liver is located on the opposite side of the abdomen and is significantly larger than a spleen.

This incident is not the first time Dr. Shaknovsky has been involved in a surgical error. Zarzaur mentioned a previous case in 2023 where the surgeon removed portions of a pancreas instead of an adrenal gland. The details of that case were settled privately.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with other authorities, is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Bryan's death. The medical examiner's office and the office of the state attorney are also involved in determining if any criminal actions occurred.

Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital released a statement expressing their commitment to patient safety and stating that they are conducting a thorough investigation into Bryan's death. However, they did not provide any specific comments on the ongoing litigation.

In light of the tragic outcome, Beverly Bryan is demanding justice and pushing for both criminal and civil proceedings against Dr. Shaknovsky. She has expressed her desire for him to be prohibited from performing any further surgeries, citing concerns about his competence and previous surgical mistakes.

While the Florida Board of Medicine states that both Dr. Shaknovsky and Dr. Bacani currently hold active medical licenses, this alarming incident raises questions about patient safety and the need for stricter regulations to ensure the competency of medical professionals.

As the investigation unfolds, the Bryan family, along with their legal representatives, seek justice for their loss and hope to make their community safer by holding accountable those responsible for such devastating medical errors.