Thomas Shaknovsky botched the surgery of William Bryan, 70, who died on the operating table

Thomas Shaknovsky botched the surgery of William Bryan, 70, who died on the operating table

According to Shaknovksy’s deposition, after removing Bryan’s liver, the surgeon instructed a nurse to label the organ as a “spleen” – and he also identified it as a spleen in Bryan’s postoperative notes. Shaknovsky later said he had been “mentally compromised” at the time of Bryan’s death, explaining that he was “devastated, demoralized, crying over his passing, felt that I failed him”.

  • HeartyOfGlass@piefed.socialEnglish
    21·
    6 days ago

    I’m all for admitting I misread something, but if you read the article, the real bleeding started before the mistake. Surgeon was wrist-deep in blood, can’t see what he has his hands on, and thinks the enlarged spleen is the liver. They’ve been wrestling with the bleeding for 20 minutes, so everyone is now in a panic. Then the mistake, no?

    It’s an awful situation, but folks around here are acting like the guy was inept or trying to avoid responsibility or something. Seems to me like this could happen to any decent surgeon with the right conditions.

      • HeartyOfGlass@piefed.socialEnglish
        3·
        6 days ago

        Boom. That’s all I need to hear.

        Florida health officials detail another incident leading to patient harm. Just two months before the fatal surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky had operated on a 58-year-old man, removing a portion of his pancreas instead of the adrenal gland during an adrenalectomy, according to Florida’s Department of Health.

        Dr. Shaknovsky documented removing the left adrenal gland and later claimed the adrenal gland had “migrated.” The patient suffered permanent harm from this error, department of health officials said. The Florida Department of Health suspended Dr. Shaknovsky’s license in September 2024, according to public records.

        Alright, fuck this guy.

        I figure, if he were a good surgeon & made a bad mistake, that’s one thing.