Dale County Chronicle
A Florida physician who previously practiced in the Dothan area has been charged with second-degree manslaughter following allegations that he removed the wrong organ during surgery, resulting in the death of a patient.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky was indicted after a grand jury reviewed evidence in the 2024 death of William Bryan, a 70-year-old Alabama man who was visiting Florida at the time of his medical emergency.
According to officials, Bryan and his wife, Beverly Bryan, were traveling in Okaloosa County, Florida, from their home in Muscle Shoals when he sought medical treatment on Aug. 18, 2024, for severe abdominal pain. He was later admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, where he underwent surgery a few days later.
Prosecutors allege that during what was scheduled as a laparoscopic splenectomy on Aug. 21, 2024, Shaknovsky mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen. Authorities say the error resulted in catastrophic internal blood loss that caused Bryan to die on the operating table.
“The Grand Jury found probable cause to charge that the actions taken in the operating room constituted criminal conduct under Florida law,” an official release stated.
The indictment follows an investigation led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s First Judicial Circuit, and additional state and medical authorities. Shaknovsky has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and his license to practice medicine as an osteopathic physician has been suspended.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said investigators pursued the case based strictly on the evidence gathered.
“Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor,” Adkinson said.
“The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss.”
He added, “We are committed to seeing this case through with the professionalism and integrity our community expects.”
Beverly Bryan has publicly stated that she believes her husband’s death was the result of a surgical error. Her attorney, Zarzaur Law, previously provided operative documentation related to the procedure.
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital, where the surgery took place, said it is conducting an internal review.
“We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event,” the hospital said in a statement. “Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a longstanding history of providing safe, quality care since the hospital opened its doors in 2003. Patient safety is and remains our number one priority. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family. We hold the privacy of our patients in the highest regard. We do not comment on specific patient cases or active litigation.”
Court records show Shaknovsky was arrested in Walton County, Florida, earlier this week. He was released on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 19, 2026.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue reviewing medical and procedural details surrounding the surgery and the patient’s death.
