Florida doctor indicted after alleged wrong-organ removal in fatal surgery

A Florida surgeon was indicted on second-degree manslaughter after prosecutors say he removed a patient's liver instead of the spleen during an Aug. 21, 2024 operation; he was arrested and had a court appearance scheduled Tuesday.

A Florida surgeon has been indicted on criminal charges after a patient died during surgery. Authorities say the operation on Aug. 21, 2024, was scheduled as a splenectomy but that the surgeon removed the patient's liver instead of the spleen. The surgeon was taken into custody and faces criminal and professional proceedings. State medical boards have taken disciplinary action. Key facts: - Prosecutors say the Aug. 21, 2024 laparoscopic splenectomy resulted in the patient's death after the surgeon allegedly removed the liver rather than the spleen. - A grand jury indicted Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky on second-degree manslaughter; he was arrested in Miramar Beach, Florida, and transported to the Walton County Jail ahead of a scheduled court appearance. - Medical licensing bodies have suspended or revoked Shaknovsky's licenses in Florida and Alabama following board filings and a review of the case. - The Alabama board filing also alleges two other surgical incidents from 2023, including one matter the filing links to another patient's death. Summary: The indictment initiates criminal proceedings alongside separate professional disciplinary actions by state medical authorities. A court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday, and further legal and licensing outcomes are pending.