Florida Surgeon Sued After Mistakenly Removing Patient’s Liver

16 February 2023
by: Juice Juice
in Health

Last updated on

In August 2024, a devastating medical error occurred at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida, where surgeon Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky mistakenly removed the liver of 70-year-old William Bryan instead of his spleen. This grave mistake led to Bryan’s untimely death, sparking outrage and a subsequent lawsuit filed by his widow, Beverly Bryan.  The community has reacted with shock and dismay, questioning how such a catastrophic error could happen in modern medicine. This incident has not only led to intense scrutiny of Dr. Shaknovsky’s practices—highlighting a previous similar mistake—but also ignited a debate on surgical safety and hospital accountability.

A Tragic Error – What Went Wrong?

William Bryan, a 70-year-old Muscle Shoals, Alabama resident, faced a critical medical decision while visiting Florida in August 2024. He and his wife, Beverly, had traveled to the Sunshine State to check on their rental property when he began experiencing severe left-sided flank pain. Concerned about his sudden and intense discomfort, Bryan sought medical attention at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach. Doctors diagnosed him with an abnormal spleen and quickly advised that surgery was necessary to prevent further complications. Despite initial reservations, the Bryans agreed to the surgical procedure, trusting the medical professionals’ urgency and expertise—a decision that would lead to unforeseen and tragic consequences. Scheduled for a splenectomy to address his spleen abnormalities, William Bryan underwent surgery under the care of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital. Instead of removing the spleen, however, Dr. Shaknovsky mistakenly excised Bryan’s liver. During the procedure, he performed a hand-assisted laparoscopic operation, which should have targeted the spleen, typically located in the upper left part of the abdomen and about the size of an avocado. Mistakingly, the liver—significantly more significant than the spleen and positioned predominantly in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen—was removed. The liver, roughly the size of a football, is a critical organ with major vasculature, including the hepatic artery and portal vein, which, when transected, can cause catastrophic blood loss. This severe error occurred despite the two organs’ notable size and location differences, which should have been distinguishable during the surgery. Dr. Shaknovsky’s critical mistake led to immediate, severe complications, resulting in William Bryan’s death.

Wrong Organ

Immediately following the surgery, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky informed Beverly Bryan of a grim prognosis concerning what he claimed was her husband’s spleen. He described the organ as severely diseased, enlarged to four times its usual size, and abnormally positioned on the wrong side of the body. These details, however, starkly conflicted with anatomical realities—mistakes soon to be devastatingly unveiled. After William Bryan’s death, a post-mortem examination revealed the horrifying truth: it was not his spleen but his liver that had been removed. The liver’s critical functions and major blood vessels had been severed during what was supposed to be a routine splenectomy, leading to fatal consequences. This discovery exposed not only a grave surgical error but also the misleading information initially provided to the grieving widow, compounding her shock and loss with a betrayal of trust.

Legal Action Taken, License Suspended

Beverly Bryan initiated legal action against Dr. Shaknovsky and Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, alleging gross negligence and malpractice after the tragic loss of her husband due to a surgical error. Her lawsuit demands both criminal and civil repercussions, underscoring the gravity of the medical mistake that took William Bryan’s life. In response to the lawsuit and public outcry, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital issued statements emphasizing its commitment to patient safety and quality care. The hospital has launched a comprehensive internal investigation to address the incident and ensure such errors are not repeated. Concurrently, local law enforcement agencies, including the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, are actively reviewing the case to determine if any criminal elements were involved. Meanwhle, Dr. Shaknovsky’s medical license was also suspended in Florida on Sept. Dr. Shaknovsky’s history of surgical errors adds a critical dimension to the case. In 2023, he made a similar mistake, removing part of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland, which was the intended target. This incident, which was settled outside of court, raises concerns about recurring patterns of negligence that question his suitability for performing surgery without additional oversight or training.

A Family Left Behind

Beverly Bryan and her family have faced profound emotional and psychological distress following William Bryan’s unexpected death. Bereavement, compounded by the shocking nature of the surgical error, has left them seeking answers and accountability. Beverly expressed feelings of betrayal and anguish over the trust placed in medical professionals who failed her husband when he was most vulnerable. The Bryan family’s attorney, Joe Zarzaur, emphasized their resolve to see justice served. He articulated the family’s determination to hold the responsible parties accountable and instigate changes to prevent such grievous errors. Zarzaur highlighted the lawsuit’s intent to catalyze reforms in surgical procedures and hospital oversight, ensuring no other family experiences a similar tragedy. As the legal team outlined, the overarching goal is to transform this profound loss into a catalyst for positive change within the medical community.

Public Reaction to the Tragic Incident

Public response to William Bryan’s death has been swift and impassioned, with many expressing their concerns over the state of accountability in the healthcare system. Social media and online forums have become spaces for heated discussions, where individuals voice their frustrations about systemic failures and medical oversights. Dr. Mark Lewis, MD, FASCO, commented on the gravity of the error, stating, “This is like asking the vet to neuter your dog but they euthanize your cat — the large organ in the RIGHT upper quadrant is the liver!”
One Reddit user highlighted the preventability of such errors by referencing basic anatomical knowledge: “I know this is mostly a joke but nowadays we have some really nice illustrated anatomy books that show things appropriately.”
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Another commenter criticized the disparity in consequences for medical professionals, stating: “There’s PCPs who get into serious trouble for not knowing the complete drug history of a patient and end up in probationary periods for years while surgeons are raping unconscious patients and doing the wrong surgeries and getting slaps on the wrist.”
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Broader Implications for Medical Practice

William Bryan’s tragic death underscores a critical need for heightened surgical accuracy and rigorous procedural checks within medical practices. Such severe errors prompt a thorough examination of existing safety protocols and the enforcement of more stringent measures to prevent similar mistakes. Hospitals and surgical teams must prioritize double-checking anatomical sites and confirming surgical plans before and during procedures, enhancing the use of checklists and peer reviews. Societal and medical community reactions have been alarming and have called for immediate reform. Medical professionals and healthcare advocates stress the importance of learning from these mistakes to foster improvements in surgical safety standards. There is a growing demand for transparency in hospital operations and for implementing advanced training programs emphasizing anatomical recognition and surgical precision. Discussions are also intensifying around healthcare providers’ legal and ethical responsibilities to maintain trust and safeguard patient lives in every interaction.

Tragic Surgical Error

William Bryan’s case is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from surgical errors. It calls for an urgent reassessment of the safety protocols and training in medical institutions nationwide. By addressing these issues head-on, the medical community can work towards restoring patient trust and ensuring that such preventable tragedies do not recur. For Beverly Bryan and countless others affected by similar errors, justice and systemic change are imperative. As we reflect on this incident, let it reinforce the vital importance of diligence and precision in all medical practices to protect patient lives above all.

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