Home / Crime and Justice / Surgeon Accused of Fatal Error Arrested Driving for Lyft
Surgeon Accused of Fatal Error Arrested Driving for Lyft
25 Apr
Summary
- Surgeon arrested while driving for Lyft on a manslaughter charge.
- Allegedly removed patient's liver instead of spleen, causing death.
- Physician's medical licenses suspended in multiple states.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a Florida surgeon, was arrested on April 13, 2026, for second-degree manslaughter. The arrest occurred dramatically, with deputies apprehending him at a busy intersection while he was driving passengers for Lyft. Shaknovsky reportedly expressed confusion and concern for his passengers during the arrest.
Prosecutors allege that over a year and a half prior, on August 21, 2024, Shaknovsky removed the liver of William Bryan, 70, instead of the intended spleen during a surgery. This error allegedly led to catastrophic blood loss and Bryan's death. Shaknovsky's Florida medical license was suspended about a month after Bryan's death.
Shaknovsky also faces a medical negligence lawsuit related to the death of Dorothy Dorsett, 70, in August 2023. Dorsett died days after Shaknovsky removed a mass but allegedly failed to prevent sepsis. His medical licenses have since been suspended in Florida, Alabama, and New York.
The Walton County Sheriff's Office stated that Shaknovsky was indicted on the manslaughter charge a week before his arrest and had been given ample notice to surrender. He is scheduled for arraignment on May 19, 2026, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
