Doctor’s License Stripped After Shocking Surgical Errors

Surgeons performing a surgery

A Florida surgeon’s career comes to a shocking end as his medical license is revoked following fatal surgical errors, including the removal of the wrong organ in two patients.

At a Glance

  • Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s medical license suspended after fatally removing wrong organ
  • 70-year-old Alabama man, William Bryan, died during botched spleen removal surgery
  • Surgeon accused of removing liver instead of spleen, causing catastrophic blood loss
  • Previous incident involved removing part of patient’s pancreas instead of adrenal gland
  • Florida Department of Health cites Shaknovsky as “immediate, serious danger” to public

Surgical Nightmare: Doctor’s Fatal Mistake

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the medical community, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a Florida surgeon, has had his medical license revoked following a series of egregious surgical errors. The most alarming of these incidents resulted in the death of William Bryan, a 70-year-old navy veteran from Alabama, during what should have been a routine spleen removal procedure.

On August 21, 2024, Bryan was admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital with concerns about his spleen. Despite initial reluctance, Bryan and his wife were persuaded by doctors to proceed with surgery due to potential serious complications. What transpired next was nothing short of a medical nightmare.

A Fatal Mistake: Liver Mistaken for Spleen

During the procedure, Dr. Shaknovsky allegedly made a catastrophic error by removing Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen. The consequences were immediate and devastating. According to the family’s attorney, the doctor “transected the major vasculature supplying the liver, causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss resulting in death”.

“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.”

Adding insult to injury, the removed liver was mislabeled as a spleen, with the error only discovered posthumously. Bryan’s actual spleen, the source of his symptoms, remained in his body with a small cyst. This gross negligence raises serious questions about Dr. Shaknovsky’s competence and the hospital’s oversight procedures.

A Pattern of Negligence

Alarmingly, this was not an isolated incident. In 2023, Dr. Shaknovsky was involved in another case where he removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland. These repeated errors paint a disturbing picture of a surgeon who seems incapable of basic organ identification, a fundamental skill for any medical professional.

“It’s one of the most egregious cases of medical malpractice that I’ve ever been involved with,” said attorney Joe Zarzuar.

The Florida Department of Health has taken decisive action, suspending Shaknovsky’s medical license and citing him as an “immediate, serious danger” to the public. This move comes amid allegations that Shaknovsky not only made fatal errors but also attempted to cover them up by fabricating medical records and pressuring others to lie.

A Call for Justice and Reform

Beverly Bryan, the widow of William Bryan, has hired a lawyer and is calling for both criminal and civil proceedings against Dr. Shaknovsky. Her goal is not only to seek justice for her husband but also to prevent the doctor from treating more patients and potentially causing further harm.

“We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a longstanding history of providing safe, quality care since the hospital opened its doors in 2003.”

This case highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight and accountability in the medical field. While patient safety procedures such as surgical safety checklists and mandatory “timeouts” are in place, this incident proves they are not foolproof. As conservative Americans, we must demand higher standards and more rigorous checks in our healthcare system to protect our families and communities from such preventable tragedies.

As investigations continue and legal proceedings unfold, one thing is clear: the medical community and regulatory bodies must take swift and decisive action to prevent such catastrophic errors in the future. The loss of William Bryan, a veteran and family man, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when medical professionals fail to uphold their sacred duty to “first, do no harm.”

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