How did it happen? That’s the question investigators are working to answer after a surgeon at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast reportedly removed a man’s liver instead of his spleen.
It happened back in August. The patient, William Bryan, died on the table.
One woman told investigators from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration she was trying not to cry while doing CPR on Bryan. She saw 42-year-old Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky pull out something much larger than a spleen.
To give you some perspective, a typical liver weighs around 4 Ibs. That’s equivalent to a traffic cone or 2 qts of juice. A spleen, on the other hand, is roughly a third of a pound, comparable to two chicken breasts.
The details in this new 47-page report from the Florida AHCA are difficult to hear. It details how a man undergoing surgery for a spleen removal died on the operating table. Attorney Joe Zarzaur says Shaknovsky is to blame.
The report reiterates what WEAR News reported — that Bryan didn’t want surgery. However, he was running out of time and couldn’t be safely transferred to his doctor’s six hours away in Alabama. Shaknovsky said he needed to remove Bryan’s spleen.
According to this report, operating room staff told investigators, after the fact, they lacked confidence in the surgeon and were concerned about the outcome. Still, the procedure went on as scheduled.
The report says Shaknovsky went from a noninvasive approach to cutting the patient open within minutes, struggling to see behind an enlarged colon.
In a mess of blood, the medical examiner says “essentially, the liver was autopsied out of that man.” Shaknovsky didn’t know it though. He told investigators from the healthcare administration he didn’t know about the mistake until two days later when notified by the pathologist — who said there was no splenic tissue to be found.
Numerous witnesses contradicted that claim, saying it was obvious the organ was not the spleen. One nurse remembers hearing a woman say in the operating room, “that’s the f****** liver.”
Seventy-year-old William Bryan died on the table. The report details multiple staff members being concerned prior to the operation.
“We had this eerie feeling,” a registered nurse told investigators.
“I don’t trust him as a doctor,” a scrub tech said.
One witness went as far as saying staff would not bring their family into the hospital if Shaknovsky was on call. Saying he was so cavalier it makes him dangerous.
Documents show Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast noted three surgical errors in the last year in a half. the fatal liver removal error case, the case of a pancreas removed instead of an adrenal gland and a perforated bowel during a colectomy — which resulted in a patient dying from infection.
All three of those cases identified Shaknovsky as the surgeon. Following the first two cases, the report says Shaknovsky took a voluntary leave of absence and underwent additional training. He was re-appointed to the medical staff in May.
A registered nurse told investigators, “I don’t know how he was allowed to come back.”
Now, the state medical board has ordered an emergency suspension of Shaknovsky’s license.
This document says there are possibly two more patients who had surgical errors that haven’t been investigated yet. Both happened this summer.
Bryan’s wife is not only pushing for a civil lawsuit but criminal charges, too.
Medical negligence can lead to devastating consequences, leaving patients with long-lasting injuries or worsening their conditions. At Ovadia Law Group, we understand the importance of holding healthcare providers accountable when they fail to meet the standard of care. Whether it’s a misdiagnosis, surgical error, or failure to treat a condition properly, our skilled attorneys are prepared to investigate your case thoroughly. We will fight to secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence, contact Ovadia Law Group today at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation and let us help you get the justice you deserve.
Source: weartv
