What happens when a doctor, who is supposed to help you feel better and recover fast, becomes the very reason for your death or any loved one’s death? That pretty much happened in the Dr Thomas Shaknovsky Lawsuit, and after all this, what unfolded was even worse. So, if you’re really angry about the fact that how come such thing happen at a hospital, then just keep on reading.
Who Was the Patient and What Went Wrong?
Well, to talk about the case, we must get to know the people involved, and sure enough, that’s when the mention of the patient comes, who was William Bill Bryan, a man of 70 from Alabama who was only on a trip to Florida with his wife. When his stomach pain got really bad, he was taken to the hospital, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. Right away, with the proper inspection and check-up, the doctors suggested a splenectomy, which is a surgery to remove the spleen.
But unfortunately, during the surgery on the 21st of August 2024, Dr. Shaknovsky took out Bill’s liver in error, instead of the spleen. The result? First of all, these are two different organs, and they are situated on different sides of the body. And sure enough, when a mistake is this big, the result is colossal too, and that resulted in a lot of blood loss and eventually, Bill died on the operating table right then and there.
When the details of this operation came out, no doubt, things became even worse. First of all, the organ that was removed was said to be labeled as “spleen”, and Bill’s wife was told that it had moved from its usual place. Not a single doubt, that scenario is not possible according to medical knowledge. Upon a subsequent pathological review, it was found that the organ was indeed the liver, and no doubt, when the general public came to know about this, there was a big outcry.
Why Is the Hospital Being Sued?
Right now, see, it is only in the details the case that we’re find out that as per Bill’s widow, Beverly Bryan, the single error was not the only failure. Nah! Based on the lawsuit, the hospital and staff after the mistake made the situation worse. Her lawyer, Joe Zarzaur, states that the medical documents were changed, the reason for death was wrongly reported, and Beverly was discouraged from insisting on an autopsy.
So sure enough, the suit that was brought in court in January 2025 lists the hospital, the staff members, and the executives as defendants. This lawsuit even talks about how the hospital already knew the problems with the doctor, but they still kept him on duty, and that very thing led to her husband’s death.
What’s Happening Legally?
There are two separate actions underway.
First, of course, the civil lawsuit going on is one which Beverly Bryan has filed against the doctor and the hospital. It claims that the operation was not merely mishandled but improperly handled at the highest level and that later attempts were made to hide the fact.
Yet another action that is at the early stages is a criminal investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. And? Oh, in this one, the law enforcement officers are checking the documents, interviewing the employees, as well as seeking advice from other surgeons to figure out if filing charges such as negligence or manslaughter would be fitting.
Did Dr. Shaknovsky Lose His Medical License?
Yes. Right away, in October 2024, the state of Alabama decided to suspend his license as they believed he was an immediate danger to the public. He subsequently handed in his license for good in November 2024. The authorities in Florida are also investigating the case, and it seems that he will never be allowed to practice there again.
