MIRAMAR BEACH, FL — Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, a Florida doctor accused of removing the wrong organ during a surgery that led to a patient’s death, was arrested on April 13, 2024, while working a shift for Lyft — much to the shock of his passengers. Shaknovsky, who was driving a silver Mitsubishi, was apprehended on charges of second-degree manslaughter after picking up two customers in Miramar Beach, Florida.
Arrest During Lyft Shift
Body-camera footage from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office showed Shaknovsky being cuffed and removed from his car by officers while his passenger sat stunned in the back seat. The passengers, who had been picked up from a hotel, feared they were being robbed when police approached with guns drawn. One passenger remarked, “That scared the crap out of us,” while the other joked, “We’re not using Lyft again. From now on, we’re using Uber.”
Shaknovsky had been a Lyft driver for over a year, maintaining a five-star rating before his arrest. The ride-sharing company removed him from the platform once they were made aware of the charges against him.
The Fatal Surgery Mistake
Shaknovsky faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter in the death of William Bryan, a 70-year-old man who died on the operating table during a laparoscopic splenectomy in August 2024. Bryan’s liver was mistakenly removed instead of his spleen, causing him to bleed to death.
According to authorities, Shaknovsky pressured Bryan into surgery even though the patient initially wished to return home to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Bryan ultimately agreed to undergo the procedure after being advised by Shaknovsky. However, during the surgery, Shaknovsky allegedly made multiple errors, converting the procedure to a riskier open surgery and removing the liver instead of the spleen.
As a result, Bryan experienced a severe hemorrhage and went into cardiac arrest. Despite attempts to revive Bryan, he was pronounced dead after Shaknovsky continued with the procedure without calling for help.
Misidentification of the Organs
Shaknovsky mistakenly identified the liver as a spleen, which is typically much smaller and lighter than the liver. According to the National Library of Medicine, an adult male’s spleen weighs between 75 and 120 grams, while a liver typically weighs around 4.6 pounds. Shaknovsky claimed that Bryan died from a splenic artery aneurysm, but the death was later ruled a homicide caused by the removal of the wrong organ.
Previous Lawsuits
Shaknovsky’s medical license was revoked after the fatal surgery, and he was already facing a negligence lawsuit prior to this incident. The widow of Dorothy Dorsett, 70, had filed a lawsuit alleging that Shaknovsky’s failure to prevent sepsis following surgery contributed to her mother’s death. This suit, along with Bryan’s death, has left Shaknovsky facing significant legal consequences.
Upcoming Arraignment
Shaknovsky is scheduled for arraignment on May 19, 2024, in connection with Bryan’s death. He faces serious charges stemming from both the fatal surgery and his past medical conduct.
