A Florida surgeon is facing a lawsuit after a tragic surgical mistake led to the death of a patient. The incident occurred at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, where Dr. Gregory Shaknovsky, a surgeon with a troubling history, allegedly removed the liver of 70-year-old William Bryan, mistaking it for his spleen. The procedure, which was meant to address a suspected spleen abnormality, resulted in Bryan’s death on the operating table, leaving his wife, Beverly Bryan, devastated and determined to seek justice.
William Bryan, a visitor to Florida, had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Following a series of tests, doctors diagnosed him with an abnormal spleen and recommended surgery. Despite initial hesitations, Bryan and his wife were convinced by Dr. Shaknovsky and the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Christopher Bacani, that immediate surgery was necessary. However, the operation took a catastrophic turn when Dr. Shaknovsky mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver, leaving the spleen untouched.
https://x.com/dubblecounter/status/1830968968846422034
The error was not discovered until after Bryan’s death, when it was confirmed that the removed organ was, in fact, his liver.
Beverly Bryan has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Shaknovsky and Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, accusing them of gross negligence and medical malpractice. The lawsuit alleges that the hospital and its staff failed to take necessary precautions, especially considering Dr. Shaknovsky’s concerning history of surgical errors. T
https://x.com/EdinamNkunu/status/1830872506716066291
his was not the first time the surgeon had been involved in a serious medical mishap. In 2023, he reportedly removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of performing the intended adrenal gland resection, raising serious questions about his competence.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the severity of the mistake and the ongoing concerns about Dr. Shaknovsky’s fitness to practice medicine. Beverly Bryan, through her attorney Joe Zarzaur, is seeking both criminal and civil penalties against the surgeon and the hospital. Zarzaur, a board-certified civil trial attorney, emphasized that the goal of the lawsuit is not only to seek justice for the Bryan family but also to prevent such a tragedy from happening to others. He stated, “My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky. I don’t want anyone else to die due to his incompetence at a hospital that should have known or knew he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical mistakes.”
The lawsuit is likely to have broader implications, as it highlights the issue of medical malpractice and the importance of accountability in healthcare. Dr. Shaknovsky is currently under investigation by the hospital and state medical boards, with the potential for further legal action depending on the outcomes of these inquiries. The case also underscores the need for stricter oversight and more rigorous competency checks for surgeons, particularly those with a history of errors.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Bryan family hopes that their pursuit of justice will bring about necessary changes in the medical field, ensuring that other families do not have to endure the same heartbreaking loss. The lawsuit is still in its early stages, and it remains to be seen what penalties, if any, will be imposed on Dr. Shaknovsky and Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital.
if he is capable of mistaking a liver for a spleen, he doesn’t belong in a medical office.
If the rest of the surgical team didn’t spot this type of problem, they shouldn’t be in an OR.