Florida Doctor Indicted for Manslaughter After Removing Wrong Organ
A grand jury in Florida has indicted Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky on a charge of second-degree manslaughter following a fatal surgical error in August 2024. Prosecutors allege that during a scheduled laparoscopic splenectomy, the doctor mistakenly removed the patient's liver instead of his spleen. This critical mistake resulted in catastrophic blood loss, leading to the death of the 70-year-old male patient from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, while he was still on the operating table. The First Judicial Circuit prosecutor announced the indictment, emphasizing that legal actions are based strictly on facts. In the aftermath of the incident, medical regulators in Florida suspended Shaknovsky’s license, and he voluntarily surrendered his medical license in Alabama as state officials moved to revoke it. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson stated that law enforcement is committed to following the evidence without bias. As of now, court records do not list an attorney representing Dr. Shaknovsky. This case highlights severe consequences of medical negligence and has drawn attention to surgical safety protocols and accountability within the healthcare system.
Wire timeline
Florida Doctor Indicted for Manslaughter After Removing Wrong Organ
A grand jury in Florida has indicted Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky on a charge of second-degree manslaughter following a fatal surgical error in August 2024. Prosecutors allege that during a scheduled laparoscopic splenectomy, the doctor mistakenly removed the patient's liver instead of his spleen. This critical mistake resulted in catastrophic blood loss, leading to the death of the 70-year-old male patient from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, while he was still on the operating table. The First Judicial Circuit prosecutor announced the indictment, emphasizing that legal actions are based strictly on facts. In the aftermath of the incident, medical regulators in Florida suspended Shaknovsky’s license, and he voluntarily surrendered his medical license in Alabama as state officials moved to revoke it. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson stated that law enforcement is committed to following the evidence without bias. As of now, court records do not list an attorney representing Dr. Shaknovsky. This case highlights severe consequences of medical negligence and has drawn attention to surgical safety protocols and accountability within the healthcare system.
AP News