Florida Doctor Faces Manslaughter Charge After Fatal Surgical Error at Miramar Beach Hospital

A physician licensed in multiple states has been indicted and arrested on second-degree manslaughter charges following a 2024 surgery in Miramar Beach, Florida, during which he removed a patient’s liver instead of the spleen, resulting in the patient’s death.

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, was taken into custody on Monday after a two-year investigation into the death of a 70-year-old Alabama man at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. The Walton County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest after a grand jury indictment. Dr. Shaknovsky is being held at Walton County Jail with bond set at $75,000. His medical licenses in Florida, Alabama, and New York have been suspended or surrendered pending further legal proceedings.

The incident occurred on August 21, 2024, following days of abdominal pain experienced by the patient, who initially declined surgery before agreeing to a laparoscopic splenectomy at Dr. Shaknovsky’s recommendation. Staff at the hospital expressed unease over scheduling the operation late in the day and raised concerns over the physician’s experience and the limited team available. According to accounts filed with state medical authorities, the surgery quickly deteriorated. After converting to an open procedure, Dr. Shaknovsky misidentified organs amidst significant bleeding and chaos. He ultimately removed the liver, mistaking it for the spleen, and failed to utilize critical surgical tools requested by the team. Despite emergency efforts, the patient could not be revived.

Following the operation, Dr. Shaknovsky insisted the death was due to a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm and instructed staff to label the removed organ as a spleen for testing. The medical examiner, however, found no evidence of such an aneurysm. In subsequent interviews, Dr. Shaknovsky attributed the mistake to abnormal anatomy, but medical staff reported shock at the misidentification.

Dr. Shaknovsky’s disciplinary records indicate previous surgical errors in Florida and Alabama. Months before the fatal incident, he allegedly removed a portion of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland, resulting in permanent harm. Alabama licensing authorities linked him to two additional surgical errors in 2023, one of which reportedly led to a patient fatality. Regulatory agencies in both states and New York have since suspended his licenses, noting an immediate risk to patient safety.

The criminal case is proceeding as Dr. Shaknovsky remains in custody. Hospital officials stated he had not been employed by Ascension since August 2024. Investigations by law enforcement and medical boards remain ongoing.