A man from Alabama who suffered a medical emergency while vacationing in Florida died during surgery after a surgeon mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen, according to the patient’s family.
William Bryan was visiting the Florida panhandle when he began experiencing severe abdominal pain. He and his wife went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital for further testing. Doctors were concerned about an issue with his spleen and recommended emergency surgery, which Bryan agreed to under the advice of General Surgeon Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christopher Bacani.
During the surgery on August 21, Dr. Shaknovsky accidentally removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen. This error led to massive blood loss and Bryan’s death.
The law firm representing the family claims that after the mistake, the liver was mislabeled as a spleen until after Bryan’s death.
The law firm also alleged that Dr. Shaknovsky had previously been involved in a “wrong-site surgery” last year, where he removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of performing an adrenal gland resection. The details of that case were settled out of court.
Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, has hired the law firm seeking justice and is advocating for both a lawsuit and a criminal investigation into her husband’s death. She expressed concern that Dr. Shaknovsky might harm other patients if he continues to practice.
In response, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital stated they are investigating the incident but did not provide additional details due to confidentiality laws. They emphasized their commitment to patient safety and their long-standing history of quality care.
Following Bryan’s death, a medical examiner found a small cyst on his spleen, which was likely the source of his initial symptoms.
