Florida surgeon removes liver instead of spleen leading to patient's immediate death

A man from Alabama, William Bryan, tragically died on the operating table after a Florida surgeon mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen during an emergency procedure, according to the New York Post, citing the family’s account.

Bryan, 70, was on vacation in Florida’s panhandle last month when he suddenly experienced severe pain in his lower left abdomen. He and his wife, Beverly, sought medical help at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, located between Pensacola and Panama City.

Doctors were reportedly concerned about a possible issue with his spleen and decided to admit Bryan for further tests, according to the family’s lawyer.


General Surgeon Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, alongside Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christopher Bacani, advised Bryan to undergo emergency surgery, warning him that leaving the hospital could result in serious complications, the family’s legal team, Zarzaur Law P.A., shared on social media.

However, during the surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky allegedly removed Bryan’s liver by mistake, instead of his spleen, which led to "immediate and catastrophic blood loss," resulting in his death, according to the law firm.

The surgeon reportedly labelled the liver as the spleen, and it wasn’t until after Bryan’s death that the mistake was discovered. Dr. Shaknovsky allegedly told Bryan’s wife that her husband’s “spleen” was severely diseased, four times its normal size, and had shifted to the opposite side of his body.

In a typical human anatomy, the liver is situated on the upper right side of the abdomen, while the spleen is found on the upper left, highlighting the gravity of the surgical error.