A tragic medical error has left a family devastated. 70-year-old William “Bill” Bryan, from Alabama, vacationing in Florida with his wife Beverly, died on the operating table after a Florida doctor mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen.
The Bryans were at their rental property in Destin when Bill experienced pain in his left side. They sought medical attention at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital near Pensacola. There, doctors discovered an abnormality in Bill’s spleen and admitted him for further tests. Beverly, a retired nurse, recounts how Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a Florida doctor, diagnosed the need for spleen surgery.
However, according to the Zarzaur Law office representing the family, a horrifying error occurred. Florida doctor Shaknovsky, during the surgery, removed Bill’s liver instead of his spleen. This critical medical error resulted in Bill’s death on the operating table.
Understandably, the family is pursuing both a lawsuit and a criminal investigation into the incident. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital released a statement acknowledging the investigation but citing patient confidentiality for not revealing further details. The statement emphasizes the hospital’s commitment to patient safety and offers condolences to the family.
One prominent study published in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) estimated that medical errors claim the lives of approximately 251,000 Americans annually. This would make them the third leading cause of death in the United States.
It’s important to note that this is a controversial figure, and some experts argue that it may be overestimated. Nevertheless, it highlights the serious nature of medical errors and the need for ongoing efforts to improve patient safety.