Surgeon Indicted for Removing Wrong Organ in Florida

A grand jury in Florida has indicted a former surgeon after an incident where he allegedly removed a man’s liver instead of his spleen. This situation, which is quite unsettling, involves Dr. Thomas Schachnofsky, who faces second-degree manslaughter charges relating to the surgery conducted in 2024 at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach.

The State Attorney’s Office for the First Circuit revealed that the surgery was intended to be a laparoscopic splenectomy, a minimally invasive method to take out the spleen. However, the unfortunate removal of Bill Bryan’s liver resulted in severe blood loss and ultimately his death on the operating table.

The grand jury expressed that the surgeon’s actions amounted to criminal conduct under Florida law. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson commented on the matter, emphasizing the importance of following facts without bias. He also expressed condolences for the victim’s family and acknowledged the gravity of their loss.

As of now, there’s no information available regarding an attorney representing Schachnofsky, making his defense uncertain. Following Bryan’s death, the Alabama Board of Supervisors ordered the suspension of his medical license, which had only been granted earlier that year. Schachnofsky’s licenses in Florida and New York were also suspended subsequently.

Records indicate that the surgeon had previously made similar errors and had attempted to cover them up. In an earlier incident in May 2023, he mistakenly removed part of a patient’s pancreas in place of the adrenal gland. It’s disheartening to think about the long-term consequences faced by those involved.

The official court documents outlined that Shakunowski’s prior mistakes and lack of accountability presented a serious risk to public health. Now in custody at the Walton County Jail, he awaits his first court appearance, and if convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.