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Doctor Accused of Removing Wrong Organ in Fatal Surgery
15 Apr
Summary
- Doctor charged with manslaughter for alleged fatal surgery error.
- Patient died after doctor reportedly removed liver instead of spleen.
- Doctor has a history of medical errors and license suspensions.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, is facing second-degree manslaughter charges stemming from a fatal surgery in August 2024. A two-year investigation culminated in his arrest on Monday. The charges are related to the death of a 70-year-old Alabama man during a procedure at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
During a laparoscopic splenectomy, operating room staff raised concerns about the doctor's experience and the late hour. Dr. Shaknovsky converted the procedure to an open one, allegedly without proper documentation. Accounts describe a chaotic scene where the doctor, unable to clearly identify organs, allegedly removed the patient's liver, mistaking it for the spleen.
Despite resuscitation efforts, the patient died. The medical examiner found no evidence supporting Dr. Shaknovsky's claim of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. The doctor has denied wrongdoing, attributing the errors to abnormal patient anatomy.
Dr. Shaknovsky's medical licenses in Florida, Alabama, and New York were suspended or surrendered prior to his arrest. Public records indicate a history of alleged surgical errors, including a 2024 incident where he reportedly removed a portion of a patient's pancreas instead of an adrenal gland, causing permanent harm. An Alabama investigation also cited a 2023 incident resulting in a patient's death.
He is currently being held at the Walton County Jail on a $75,000 bond. His medical licenses across all three states have been suspended or surrendered.
