An Alabama man is dead after a Florida surgeon reportedly removed his liver instead of his spleen during a surgery gone wrong.
Attorney Joe Zarzaur is representing the family of William Dale "Bill" Bryan, of Muscle Shoals.
William Dale "Bill" Bryan, 70, of Muscle Shoals, was on vacation in Okaloosa County, Florida, when he started feeling pain in his left side. He went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, where he was admitted on August 18.
According to an operative document obtained by 1819 News, Bryan initially refused surgery and stated he wanted to drive home to see his regular doctor. Another physician was brought in and convinced him to have surgery due to the threat of increased bleeding and "even death."
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky performed the hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery, which was supposed to be a splenectomy. Bryan died on the operating table.
"During this operation, Dr. Shaknovsky removed Mr. Bryan's liver and, in so doing, transected the major vasculature supplying the liver, causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss resulting in death," Zarzaur said in a press release.
Documents show after the surgery, the doctor labeled the liver as "spleen" and sent it off to pathology. A surgical pathology report stated, "Received in formalin labeled with the patient's name and 'spleen,' is a grossly identifiable 2,106 g liver."
During dictation and after surgery, Shaknovsky clearly believed the specimen he removed was a spleen. Documents state that he told Bryan's wife of 33 years, Beverly, that her husband's spleen was so diseased that it was four times bigger than it was supposed to be and had migrated to the other side of his body.
Upon postmortem examination, Bryan's spleen was found in his body with a small cyst on its surface.
Attorneys said Shaknovsky has a history of "wrong-site surgery" and referenced a case from 2023 when he mistakenly removed a portion of a patient's pancreas instead of part of an adrenal gland.
The surgeon has been associated with several Florida hospitals and clinics. North Walton Doctor's Hospital, where he was listed as director of surgery, has disassociated with Shaknovsky.
Zarzaur said his client wants the public to know about her husband's case.
"Mrs. Bryan hired Joe Zarzaur of Zarzaur Law, P.A. to get justice for her husband," Zarzaur stated. "She doesn't want this doctor to continue treating patients.
"Mrs. Bryan is pushing both criminal and civil proceedings as she feels that, 'My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky. I don't want anyone else to die due to his incompetence at a hospital that should have known or knew he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical mistakes," he added.
Attorneys plan to enter into a pre-suit period to try and settle the case. If a settlement is not reached, a medical malpractice lawsuit may be filed in Florida.
Bryan was a retired U.S. Navy combat veteran of the Vietnam conflict.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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