Doctor Shut Down After Fatal Surgery on Muscle Shoals Man

In what was called a "grievous medical error," the doctor accused of causing the death of a Muscle Shoals man has now had his medical license suspended.

Photo byJair LázaroonUnsplash

Muscle Shoals resident, Bill Bryan, died during surgery in August while he and his wife were on a trip to visit their rental property in Destin, Florida. Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky insisted that the surgery was urgently needed after Bryan visited the local ER with stomach pain.

According to official reports, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky of Florida accidentally removed Bill Bryan's liver instead of his spleen during the surgery - a mistake that cost Bill Bryan his life.

"Dr. Shaknovsky’s repeated egregious surgical errors resulted in significant patient harm coupled with his failure to take responsibility for these errors indicates that his reckless conduct is likely to continue," the order says. "Therefore, Dr. Shaknovsky’s continued practice as an osteopathic physician presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the public." - Florida Department of Health

In a public statement, the Florida Dept. Of Health called Dr. Shaknovsky's actions a "grievous medical error" that poses an "immediate, serious danger" to the public and chose to suspend his medical license immediately with an emergency order.

Florida Dept of Health also accused Shaknovsky of "egregious conduct," and detailed the doctor's attempt to cover up his mistake by falsifying medical records, lying about the incident, and instructing others involved with the surgery to lie about what happened.

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, FloridaPhoto byZarzaur Law Firm

Sadly, this wasn't the first "mistake" this doctor had made during surgery. In May 2023, Dr. Shavnosky mistakenly removed part of a man's pancreas during an adrenal gland surgery. That patient lived, however, with "long-term permanent harm" according to the Florida Dept. Of Health.

In a statement to Fox Digital News, Bill Bryan's wife, Beverly Bryan stated, "My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky. I don’t want anyone else to die due to his incompetence at a hospital that should have known or knew he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical mistakes."

Bill and Beverly Bryan, Muscle Shoals, AlabamaPhoto byZarzaur Law Firm

Beverly and members of Mr. Bryan's family are currently working with the Zarzaur Law Firm in Florida to bring civil and criminal charges against Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the loving circle of friends and family affected by the tragic and untimely loss of Mr. Bryan. He was a retired Boilermaker of Local 455 and a proud Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

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