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In a significant development, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a physician practicing in Florida, has been formally indicted on charges of second-degree manslaughter. This follows the tragic death of William Bryan, a 70-year-old Alabama resident, in 2024.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office announced that Dr. Shaknovsky is accused of a grave surgical error—removing the wrong organ during a procedure. Now under arrest and held in the Walton County jail, he faces serious legal consequences for his actions nearly two years ago.
William Bryan, a veteran, passed away in August 2024 during what was supposed to be a routine laparoscopic splenectomy at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida. Instead of removing Bryan’s spleen, Dr. Shaknovsky mistakenly excised his liver, leading to the patient’s death, according to the sheriff’s office.
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The grand jury concluded that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that the actions taken during the operation amounted to criminal behavior under Florida law. This decision underscores the severity of the incident and the legal implications of medical errors.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson emphasized the importance of adhering to the facts, stating, “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor.” He further affirmed the role of the legal system in ensuring that justice is served. “The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss. We are committed to seeing this case through with the professionalism and integrity our community expects,” he remarked.
As First Coast News previously reported, in September 2024, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued a 21-page emergency order suspending his Florida license to practice as an osteopathic physician. Ladapo wrote in that order that Shaknovsky “presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare and safety of the public” citing “egregious surgical errors” and “egregious conduct of fabricating medical records.”
The emergency suspension order spelled out a history of problems. It said in May 2023 Shaknovsky removed a portion of a different patient’s pancreas instead of his adrenal gland at that same hospital and claimed the adrenal gland had “migrated” to a different part of the body. Florida Insurance Regulation records show that the patient suffered permanent injuries including loss of fingers and loss or damage to his organs. The case was settled for $400,000, according to the Florida Insurance Regulation records.
In November 2024, Shaknovsky voluntarily surrendered his license to practice medicine in Alabama. His license status in Florida is listed on the Department of Health’s (DOH) website as “retired,” meaning he is not authorized to practice in the state according to the DOH.
Shaknovsky was released on a $75,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family. He is due back in court in May.
If convicted, the maximum time he could face in prison would be 15 years according to the State Attorney’s Office.
We reached out to Ascension Sacred Heart, and a spokesperson said, “At Ascension, patient safety is our top priority. Surgeons practicing at our facilities, employed and affiliated, must meet rigorous credentialing standards, which includes holding a valid state license. The majority of surgeons and physicians are specialty board certified with the remainder on a pathway to board certification. Dr. Shaknovsky was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024. We remain focused on upholding the standards our patients and community expect of us.”