The State of Florida Health Department has suspended Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky's license in an emergency order.
William Dale "Bill" Bryan, 70, of Muscle Shoals, died during what was supposed to be a splenectomy at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Florida. Shaknovsky removed the patient’s liver instead of his spleen.
Documents show after the surgery, the doctor labeled the liver as "spleen" and sent it off to pathology. A surgical pathologist discovered the discrepancy. Upon postmortem examination, Bryan's spleen was found in his body with a small cyst on its surface.
The death certificate states Bryan died of blood loss due to the removal of his liver, and the death has been ruled a homicide.
Attorney Joe Zarzaur is representing Bryan’s family in a civil case. Zarzaur said the surgeon was responsible for another wrong-site incident in 2023 that has since been settled.
Both cases were cited in the emergency order. In the death of Bryan, operating room staff were concerned the doctor did not have the skill level to perform a complicated splenectomy at Ascension, where those procedures were not regularly performed.
Board documents state that during the surgery, Shaknovsky said he panicked when an aneurysm ruptured. He blindly fired a staple device in the man’s abdomen and hurriedly removed what he thought was the spleen. Staff reported he continually tried to convince them the removed organ was a spleen.
An examination concluded there was no aneurysm, but instead, the surgeon cut the inferior vena cava, the largest vein in the human body, which connects the liver to the heart.
Shaknovsky was board-certified in general surgery. The board ordered a complete restriction on performing surgery and suspended his license due to lack of skill, dishonesty and fraud.
“Dr. Shaknovsky’s blatant disregard for the truth, falsification of an operative report, and attempt to convince OR staff to acquiesce to his version of events is a breach of the public trust,” the 21-page order reads. “Dr. Shaknovsky’s dishonesty cannot be contained to only operative reports; it colors every aspect of the practice of osteopathic medicine. The public must be able to trust that Dr. Shaknovsky’s description of patient care, whether that is in an emergency room, clinic, or primary care practice, is true. That trust is irrevocably broken. Therefore, there is no restriction that can adequately protect the public from an osteopathic physician who is willing to lie and pressure others to lie on their behalf.”
Shaknovsky has not been charged criminally.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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