A Florida surgeon, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, had his medical license suspended after a series of botched surgeries, including one where he mistakenly removed a patient’s liver instead of his spleen, resulting in the patient’s death. The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency suspension, citing Shaknovsky’s failure to distinguish between basic anatomical structures and his attempts to cover up the error.
In one case, Shaknovsky mistakenly removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland. In another tragic instance, 70-year-old Alabama resident William Bryan underwent surgery for spleen-related issues, but Shaknovsky removed Bryan’s liver, leading to his death. Witnesses in the operating room were shocked by Shaknovsky’s actions, particularly when he mislabeled the removed organ as a spleen. Despite knowing it was a liver, the organ was sent for pathology under the wrong label.
Shaknovsky’s post-surgery behavior also raised concerns, as he allegedly tried to convince staff that Bryan’s spleen had ruptured, even though they had witnessed the removal of the liver. This led the health department to conclude that Shaknovsky either lacked clinical understanding or integrity, and his continued practice would pose a danger to public safety.
A civil lawsuit is expected to be filed by Bryan’s family, though Florida law requires a pre-litigation process before formal complaints can be made in cases of medical malpractice resulting in death.
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