Florida surgeon who removed wrong organ says he is ‘forever traumatized’
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Florida surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky was indicted on a manslaughter charge after mistakenly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen during surgery in August 2024, resulting in the patient’s death.
- In a detailed deposition, Shaknovsky described chaotic operating conditions, including heavy bleeding and obstructed views, which contributed to the surgical error and expressed deep remorse and trauma over the incident.
- The patient’s widow filed a lawsuit accusing Shaknovsky of medical malpractice and covering up the error by misidentifying the removed organ in medical records.
- Shaknovsky has faced prior malpractice allegations, lost medical licenses in multiple states, and was arrested while working as a Lyft driver following his indictment.
- The hospital where the surgery occurred stated Shaknovsky was not employed there and emphasized patient safety as a priority; the case remains under ongoing litigation.
