Florida Surgeon Charged With Manslaughter For Removing Wrong Organ From Patient

A Florida surgeon is facing charges in connection to the operating-room death of a patient in which he allegedly removed the wrong organ.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said a grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the August 2024 death of a 70-year-old man from Alabama.

The sheriff’s office said it conducted an “extensive investigation” in coordination with the Office of the State Attorney First Judicial Circuit as well as state and medical authorities.

The victim was scheduled to undergo a laparoscopic splenectomy, or removal of the spleen, on Aug. 21, 2024. Dr. Shaknovsky instead removed the victim’s liver, which resulted in “catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table,” the sheriff’s office said.

The grand jury determined there was probable cause to charge that the operating room error constituted criminal conduct.

“Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “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.

Shaknovsky was arrested in Miramar Beach Monday morning and booked into the Walton County Jail.