The Florida surgeon accused of killing a patient after removing the wrong organ is still allowed to practice medicine, reports say.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky allegedly cut out 70-year-old William Bryan's liver instead of his spleen Aug. 21, at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Miramar, Florida, according to William's widow's attorney.
The Bryans were visiting from Alabama when William began to experience pain on his left side. He underwent emergency surgery, purportedly at Shaknovsky's recommendation.
"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. The surgeon proceeded with labeling the removed liver specimen as a 'spleen,' and it wasn't until following the death that it was identified that the organ removed was actually Mr. Bryan's liver," a statement from personal injury law firm Zarzaur Law read.
Nearly a month after the incident, Shaknovsky's license to practice medicine remains "clear" and "active," the Pensacola News Journal reported, citing the Florida Department of Health
Per its protocol, the FDOH does not confirm or deny when and if an investigation is underway. The public is only notified if probable cause is found during the investigation.
FDOH Director of Communications Jae Williams said, "Any disciplinary complaints that were filed, they're not going to be available until after the Board of Medicine issues a finding," according to the paper.
In a similar incident, Shaknovsky mistakenly removed a portion of a patient's pancreas in 2023, and settled for an undisclosed amount, Zarzaur Law stated.
