The family of 70-year-old William Bryan from Alabama claims he died after doctors mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen during a surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Florida. Bryan had gone to the hospital on August 18 for a splenectomy, a surgery to remove his spleen.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, the surgeon who performed the procedure, had discussed the surgery’s risks, benefits, and alternatives with Bryan and his wife, Beverly, according to a report obtained by the family’s attorney, Joe Zarzaur. However, during the surgery, Bryan’s liver was removed instead of his spleen, leading to his death from massive blood loss.
Joe Zarzaur, the family’s attorney, called the case one of the most serious instances of medical malpractice he has ever encountered. He stated during a press conference that Bryan’s death was unnecessary and resulted from the surgeon’s incompetence.
Ascension Sacred Heart released a statement saying they are taking the allegations seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation. The hospital emphasized its commitment to patient safety and quality care.
Before the surgery, Bryan had been experiencing severe abdominal pain while on vacation in Destin, Florida. He was diagnosed with a bleeding spleen, and the surgeon advised that immediate surgery was necessary to prevent him from bleeding to death. Despite this, the surgery resulted in the wrong organ being removed.
After the surgery, a pathologist discovered that the removed organ labeled as a spleen was actually Bryan’s liver. An autopsy confirmed that Bryan’s spleen was still in his body, while his liver had been removed.
Beverly Bryan, William’s wife, spoke emotionally during the press conference, describing her husband as a good man who was taken from his family due to the surgeon’s negligence. She expressed her anger and heartbreak over the tragic mistake.
No lawsuit has been filed yet, as Florida law requires a six to nine-month pre-suit process. However, the Bryan family plans to pursue legal action. They are also concerned that Dr. Shaknovsky is still practicing medicine. A criminal investigation into Bryan’s death is currently underway, with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office involved.
This is not the first time Dr. Shaknovsky has faced such an issue. In 2023, he settled a case where he accidentally removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of an adrenal gland. That case was settled out of court.
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