US surgeon charged with murder after fatal organ mix-up in surgery

A Florida surgeon has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen during a fatal operation, according to the New York Post.

The incident reportedly occurred in August 2024 during surgery on 70-year-old William Bryan. The physician, identified as Dr. Thomas Shaknovksy, is said to have mistakenly removed the patient’s healthy liver, resulting in severe bleeding and the patient’s death. Reports state that the organ was later sent to a laboratory for testing.

Authorities allege this was not the first serious mistake linked to the surgeon. In previous cases, he was accused of performing incorrect procedures on other patients, including major surgical errors in 2023 that reportedly led to fatalities.

Following internal complaints from colleagues, the doctor’s medical licence was temporarily suspended in 2024. He has now been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and related offences as the investigation continues.