Alabama man dies after surgeon removes wrong organ
A Florida surgeon mistakenly removes a liver instead of the spleen, leading to the patient's death.
According to a lawsuit, Beverly Bryan, wife of 70-year-old patient Bill Bryan, is in the process of suing Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky and Florida’s Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital for medical negligence toward her husband’s tragic death.
“On August 21, 2024, Dr. Shaknovsky proceeded with a hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy procedure,” Joe Zarzaur, Bryan’s attorney, said in the lawsuit obtained by Newsweek.
“During this operation, Dr. Shaknovsky removed Mr. Bryan’s liver, and, in doing so, transected the major vasculature supplying liver, causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss resulting in death,” he added.
The Bryans were visiting their rental home in Okaloosa Country, Florida, when Bill started complaining of pain along the left side of his body. He was told by Dr. Shaknovsky that he needed urgent surgery when they arrived at the hospital.
It was only after the death that it was discovered that the patient’s spleen was still inside his body and the liver had been incorrectly removed.
"The surgeon told Mrs. Bryan after the procedure that the ‘spleen’ was so diseased that it was four times bigger than usual and had migrated to the other side of Mr. Bryan’s body,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ascension told USA TODAY that they are taking the allegations "very seriously" and that their team is doing a "thorough investigation."
"Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a longstanding history of providing safe, quality care since the hospital opened its doors in 2001," the statement said.
"Patient safety is and remains our number one priority. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family. We hold the privacy of our patients in the highest regard. We do not comment on specific patient cases or active litigation," it continued.
Zarzaur mentioned that they are pursuing both criminal and civil lawsuits against the surgeon and hospital.
“My husband died while helpless on the operating room table [of] Dr. Shaknovsky,” Mrs. Bryan said in a statement.