Doctor Allegedly Swaps Organs — Catastrophe Ensues

A wooden gavel next to a stethoscope on a dark surface

A Florida surgeon faces up to 15 years in prison after a grand jury indicted him for manslaughter in the death of a patient whose liver was allegedly removed instead of his spleen, exposing a pattern of surgical errors that regulators warned posed an immediate danger to the public.

Story Snapshot

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky indicted for second-degree manslaughter after allegedly removing William Bryan’s liver instead of spleen during a routine surgery
Patient died on operating table from catastrophic blood loss; doctor allegedly insisted removed organ was spleen and directed staff to mislabel it
Florida regulators cited pattern of “repeated egregious surgical errors” including 2023 incident where pancreas was removed instead of adrenal gland
Grand jury found criminal conduct under Florida law; surgeon arrested April 14, 2026, and held in Walton County Jail with medical licenses suspended in two states

Fatal Surgery on Vacation Patient

William “Bill” Bryan, a 70-year-old from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, sought treatment at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach on August 18, 2024, while vacationing with his wife Beverly. Bryan experienced left-side pain and became Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s patient. Three days later, on August 21, Bryan underwent what should have been a routine laparoscopic splenectomy to remove his spleen. Instead, Shaknovsky allegedly removed Bryan’s liver, causing the patient to go into cardiac arrest from massive hemorrhaging. Bryan died on the operating table from catastrophic blood loss.

Alleged Cover-Up and Mislabeling

According to Florida Department of Health documents, Shaknovsky insisted to hospital staff amid the chaos that the organ he removed was the spleen, not the liver, and directed them to label it as such. The surgeon later claimed Bryan’s death resulted from a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. This attempted cover-up drew particular scrutiny from investigators, who found the doctor’s conduct went beyond simple medical error into reckless disregard for patient safety. Fellow physicians at the hospital had expressed early reservations about Shaknovsky performing the splenectomy, according to regulatory records.

Pattern of Surgical Mistakes

The Bryan case was not Shaknovsky’s first catastrophic error. In May 2023, the surgeon removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of an adrenal gland, causing permanent harm to that individual. When questioned about that incident, Shaknovsky claimed the organ had “migrated” from its normal anatomical position. Florida health regulators cited these “repeated egregious surgical errors” and the doctor’s failure to take responsibility as evidence he posed an ongoing danger to patients. The pattern revealed a troubling combination of surgical incompetence and unwillingness to acknowledge mistakes that puts vulnerable patients at risk.

Criminal Charges and Regulatory Action

On April 14, 2026, a Walton County grand jury indicted Shaknovsky for second-degree manslaughter, finding his actions constituted criminal conduct under Florida law. Sheriff Michael Adkinson emphasized his office’s commitment to follow facts “without fear or favor” in pursuing the case. Shaknovsky was arrested the same day and remains held in Walton County Jail, facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Florida had already suspended his medical license following Bryan’s death, and Alabama regulators moved to revoke his license there, which Shaknovsky voluntarily surrendered.

Florida doctor charged after allegedly removing wrong organ during surgery https://t.co/RP9KMX51CA

— ConservativeLibrarian (@ConserLibrarian) April 14, 2026

This case raises fundamental questions about medical accountability that should concern Americans across the political spectrum. When a surgeon repeatedly makes fatal errors and allegedly attempts to cover them up, it exposes failures in the systems meant to protect patients from dangerous practitioners. The criminalization of this conduct acknowledges that some medical errors cross the line from malpractice into recklessness deserving of prosecution. For families who place their trust in doctors during vulnerable moments, the Bryan case demonstrates how that trust can be fatally betrayed when professionals prioritize self-protection over patient safety and honest accountability.