Florida doctor indicted after allegedly removing patient’s liver instead of spleen in fatal surgery
A Florida doctor, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with a tragic surgery that resulted in the accidental removal of a patient’s liver instead of the spleen. The incident, which occurred in August 2024, led to the death of a 70-year-old Alabama man and has sparked a two-year investigation by local and state law enforcement agencies as well as medical authorities.
Dr. Shaknovsky, a 44-year-old physician licensed to practice in Florida, Alabama, and New York, was arrested on Monday following a grand jury indictment. He is currently being held at Walton County Jail on a $75,000 bond, with all his medical licenses suspended or turned in prior to his arrest.
The Tragic Surgery
The fatal surgery took place at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach after the Alabama man presented with abdominal pain. Dr. Shaknovsky recommended a laparoscopic splenectomy, which the patient initially resisted but ultimately agreed to undergo.
The procedure, scheduled late in the day with a limited operating room staff, raised concerns among the medical team. During the surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky decided to convert to an open procedure without proper documentation, leading to complications as the patient began to hemorrhage and experience a drop in vital signs.
Despite resuscitation efforts, the patient succumbed to his injuries, with Dr. Shaknovsky attributing the death to a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. However, the medical examiner found no evidence of this claim.
Chaotic Scenes and Misidentifications
Witnesses from the operating room described a chaotic scene where Dr. Shaknovsky mistakenly identified the liver as the spleen and proceeded to remove it. Despite staff members’ shock at the misidentification, the doctor maintained that the patient’s organs had abnormal anatomy or were misplaced, leading to the error.
This incident was not the first of its kind involving Dr. Shaknovsky. Just two months prior, he had mistakenly removed a portion of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland during surgery, resulting in permanent harm to the individual.
History of Medical Errors
Dr. Shaknovsky’s medical licenses have come under scrutiny due to a history of operating mistakes and patient harm. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners temporarily suspended his license following the 2024 incident, citing a potential danger to patients and the public.
Similar incidents in 2023 and 2025, including another fatality and a suspension of his New York State medical license, further highlight a pattern of errors and negligence in Dr. Shaknovsky’s practice.
Despite the allegations and charges, Dr. Shaknovsky has denied any wrongdoing, attributing the mistakes to unusual patient anatomy or circumstances. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the outcome of this tragic case.
