Alabama widow's heartbreak after husband died on operating table 'when surgeons removed the WRONG organ'

An Alabama widow is sharing her heartbreak after her husband died on the operating table when a surgeon allegedly removed the wrong organ. 

Beverly Bryan said her husband of 33 years William, 70, underwent an emergency operation in August after he felt a sudden pain in his side while they were visiting their rental property in Florida. 

Although the issue was traced to his spleen, the surgeon, Dr Thomas Shaknovsky, allegedly removed his liver by mistake, causing fatal side effects in the process. 

The alleged medical mix-up was revealed as Beverly called for civil and criminal proceedings to be brought, saying her husband 'died while helpless.' 

William Bryan, 70, (pictured with his wife Beverly) passed away last month after undergoing an emergency surgery where a doctor allegedly removed the wrong organ 

Dr Thomas Shaknovsky is accused of mistakenly removing Bryan's liver instead of his spleen. He has not been charged with any crime by law enforcement 

According to law firm Zarzaur Law, which is representing Beverly, William was initially reluctant to undergo his fatal surgery but was pushed into it by medics at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Walton County, Florida. 

While in hospital on August 18, he asked to be released so he could travel back to see his doctor in Alabama, but was 'persuaded' by Shaknovsky and another doctor to take the surgery, warning of 'serious complications' if he refused, the firm said. 

But Shaknovsky wrongfully designated William's liver as his spleen, in a tragic mistake that a surgical pathology report described as 'grossly identifiable', reports the Miami Herald. 

When Shaknovsky removed the liver, he tore blood vessels connected to the organ, 'causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss resulting in death', Zarzaur Law said. 

Following the surgery, Shaknovsky told Beverly that William's 'spleen was so diseased that it was four times bigger than usual and had migrated to the other side of (his) body', the firm added. 

William's passing came after the erroneous removal of his liver tore blood vessels connected to the organ, 'causing immediate and catastrophic blood loss resulting in death'

Although William's spleen was never removed, an autopsy found that it had a small cyst on it.  

William's grieving widow now says she plans to file a lawsuit after a pre-litigation process is carried out. 

'My husband died while helpless on the operating room table by Dr. Shaknovsky,' Beverly said in a statement.  

According to his reported obituary, William was the father of three children, had eight grandchildren, and was a US Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War. 

In her statement, Beverly also accused Shaknovsky of previously removing a patient's pancreas in error in 2023. 

In that case, the surgeon 'mistakenly removed a portion of a patient’s pancreas instead of performing the intended adrenal gland resection', Zarzaur Law said, adding that 'case was settled in confidence.' 

According to his obituary, William was a Vietnam War veteran with the US Navy and leaves behind three children and eight grandchildren 

Beverly said in her statement that her potential legal action comes as she doesn't 'want anyone else to die due to his incompetence at a hospital that should have known or knew he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical mistakes.' 

According to the Miami Herald, Shaknovsky had no disciplinary cases or public complaints against his file.  

Shaknovsky has not been criminally charged in the case of William Bryan. 

Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast said in a statement to McClatchy News: 'We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event.' 

'Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family,' the statement added, noting that the hospital 'doesn't comment on specific patient cases or active litigation.'