Alabama Man Dies After Surgeon Mistakenly Removes Liver Instead of Spleen, Widow Seeks Justice
An Alabama woman is seeking justice after her husband died during surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Florida, where a surgeon allegedly removed his liver instead of his spleen.
William Bryan, 70, was visiting the couple's rental property in Florida in August when he experienced pain on the left side of his body. After being admitted to the hospital, he was persuaded to undergo surgery to remove his spleen. However, during the procedure, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky mistakenly removed Bryan's liver, leading to catastrophic blood loss and his death, according to Zarzaur Law, P.A., the firm representing Bryan's wife, Beverly.
A surgical pathology report revealed that the organ removed was a "grossly identifiable" liver, not the spleen as the surgeon had thought. Despite Bryan’s initial refusal of surgery, he was convinced by Shaknovsky and another doctor to proceed, with warnings that serious complications could arise if he left the hospital without the operation.
In a statement, Beverly Bryan expressed her grief and outrage, stating, "My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky." She is calling for both civil and criminal proceedings against those involved in her husband's death. Her attorney, Joe Zarzaur, intends to file a lawsuit after a pre-litigation process, aiming to "get justice for the Bryan family."
William Bryan, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, was married to Beverly for 33 years and had three children and eight grandchildren. He worked as a boilermaker before retiring.
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, part of a non-profit Catholic healthcare system, stated they are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident but declined to comment on specific patient cases or ongoing litigation. Shaknovsky, who has no disciplinary cases or public complaints on record, has not responded to requests for comment.
Beverly Bryan's legal team also alleges that Shaknovsky had previously made serious surgical errors, including wrongly removing part of a patient's pancreas during another procedure in 2023. She hopes that her husband's tragic death will prevent future medical mistakes.
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