In a shocking case of medical malpractice, an Alabama man tragically lost his life during a routine surgery gone horribly wrong while on vacation in Florida. William Bryan, 70, died on the operating table after a surgeon mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen, leaving his grieving family in disbelief and demanding justice.
The ordeal began when Bryan, who was visiting the Florida panhandle with his wife, Beverly, suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain. Concerned for his health, the couple sought medical attention at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, located between Pensacola and Panama City. Doctors quickly identified an abnormality in his spleen, prompting them to admit him for further tests and observations.
As the situation unfolded, General Surgeon Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christopher Bacani strongly advised Bryan to undergo emergency surgery, warning him of potential severe complications if he delayed treatment. Trusting the medical professionals, Bryan agreed to the procedure, a decision that would ultimately cost him his life.
The surgery, a hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy, was intended to remove Bryan’s spleen. However, in a catastrophic error, Dr. Shaknovsky removed Bryan’s liver instead—a mistake that led to immediate and fatal blood loss. To make matters worse, the surgeon reportedly labeled the removed liver as a “spleen,” only for the devastating truth to be discovered after Bryan’s death.
Beverly Bryan, who lost her husband in the most unimaginable way, is now seeking justice. “My husband died helpless on the operating room table due to Dr. Shaknovsky’s incompetence,” she stated through her legal representation. “I don’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate at the hands of a surgeon who should have been held accountable long ago.”
The law firm representing Beverly Bryan, Zarzaur Law P.A., has revealed that this isn’t the first time Dr. Shaknovsky has been involved in a surgical mishap. The surgeon allegedly performed a “wrong-site surgery” last year, mistakenly removing part of a patient’s pancreas instead of conducting an adrenal gland resection. The details of that case remain undisclosed, as it was quietly settled out of court.
Understandably, Beverly Bryan is pushing not only for a civil lawsuit but also for a criminal investigation into her husband’s death. The medical community and the public are watching closely, as this case raises serious concerns about patient safety and the oversight of medical professionals.
In response to the incident, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the allegations and confirming that an investigation is underway. “We take allegations like this very seriously,” the hospital stated. “Patient safety is and remains our number one priority.”
Meanwhile, North Walton Doctor’s Hospital has moved to distance itself from Dr. Shaknovsky, scrubbing all references to the surgeon from its website. This action, while seemingly a step in the right direction, offers little comfort to a widow who lost her husband to what should have been a straightforward medical procedure.
Adding to the tragic irony of this case, the medical examiner’s report later revealed that Bryan’s initial abdominal pain was caused by a small cyst on his spleen—a minor issue that could have been addressed without the life-altering mistake that cost him his life. Now, Beverly Bryan and her family are left to pick up the pieces and fight for accountability in a system that tragically failed them.
