Florida Doctor Indicted for Fatal Surgical Error
A Florida surgeon has been charged in the death of a 70-year-old man after allegedly removing the wrong organ during a surgery. This mistake reportedly led to “catastrophic blood loss,” ultimately resulting in the patient’s death.
Dr. Thomas Schachnowski, 44, was indicted this week by a grand jury on second-degree manslaughter charges related to the death of William Bryan from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
The family’s attorney expressed that “this heartbreaking loss has devastated William Bryan’s family. We seek justice for this senseless tragedy.”
According to the family’s law firm, Bryan and his wife, Beverly, were on vacation in Okaloosa County, Florida, when they began experiencing pain on the left side of their bodies. They went to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida, where doctors found a possible issue with Bryan’s spleen, leading to his hospitalization for additional testing.
Despite Bryan’s preference for medication management over surgery, Schachnowski allegedly pressured him into undergoing a splenectomy. The surgery was scheduled for August 21, 2024.
It was noted by the Florida Department of Health that staff expressed concerns about surgeries taking place late at night with minimal staff, especially for complex procedures like splenectomies. Shachnowski reportedly arrived approximately an hour late for the scheduled surgery.
Investigators revealed that in a shocking turn of events, Schachnowski removed the patient’s liver rather than the spleen. Post-surgery reports indicated that Bryan experienced severe blood loss and went into cardiac arrest, with staff members noticing considerable blood loss that obscured visibility in the operating room.
The health department report emphasized that the liver and spleen are distinctly different organs, not only in location but in appearance. Staff were reportedly stunned when Schachnowski misidentified the liver as the spleen.
Sadly, Bryan was pronounced dead shortly after. While Schachnowski attributed the death to a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, further investigation contradicted this claim, establishing that the organ removed was an intact liver, while the spleen remained in place.
The grand jury concluded there was sufficient evidence for charges against Schachnowski, who has since been arrested and taken to Walton County Jail. The sheriff stressed the commitment to follow the facts of the case without bias.
In a personal reflection, Beverly Bryan shared her horror over the series of events, expressing disbelief that something of this nature could occur.
Following Bryan’s death, a lawsuit was filed by Zarzaul Law against Schachnowski and the hospital. The hospital has stated that Schachnowski is not a current employee and has not practiced there since August 2024.
A spokesperson also mentioned that other patients allegedly faced surgical mishaps under Schachnowski, one resulting in death. For example, an incident in May 2023 involved the removal of part of a patient’s pancreas, confusing it with an adrenal gland.
Schachnowski faced further legal repercussions, including the temporary suspension of his medical license by both the Florida Surgeon General and the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.
As it stands, Schachnowski is scheduled for arraignment on May 19 in Walton County Circuit Court.
