A Destin surgeon is facing a criminal charge after what investigators describe as a stunning mistake in the operating room that left a 70-year-old patient dead. On April 13, 2026, a Walton County grand jury indicted Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky on a count of second-degree manslaughter, accusing him of removing the wrong organ during an Aug. 21, 2024 surgery.
Shaknovsky was taken into custody in Miramar Beach, transported to the Walton County Jail and held there awaiting his initial court appearance following the indictment.
In a news release, the Walton County Sheriff's Office said the indictment followed an "extensive investigation" carried out with the Office of the State Attorney and medical experts. The grand jury, according to the release, found probable cause to charge Shaknovsky after concluding that he removed the patient's liver instead of his spleen, causing "catastrophic blood loss" that led to the man's death on the operating table. Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in the statement that his office intends to pursue the case through the established legal process.
What Happened In The Operating Room
Prosecutors say the surgery on Aug. 21, 2024 had been scheduled as a laparoscopic splenectomy, a procedure to remove the spleen, according to CBS News. Investigators allege that during that procedure Shaknovsky instead removed the patient's liver, severing major blood vessels and triggering a massive hemorrhage. Law-enforcement accounts describe the result as both immediate and catastrophic.
Victim And Family Response
Local coverage identified the patient as 70-year-old William Bryan of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, who was visiting northwest Florida when he developed sudden pain on his left side and was admitted for evaluation, according to NBC Boston. Bryan's wife, Beverly, has said the surgeon told her that Bryan's spleen had "migrated," a claim that has only intensified the family's questions about what happened.
The family has hired attorneys, and they are being represented by Zarzaur Law P.A., which has indicated plans to pursue civil claims tied to Bryan's death.
Surgeon’s Record And Licensing
Regulators moved quickly after the August 2024 incident. State and media records show that Florida's surgeon general issued an emergency suspension of Shaknovsky's license last September, and he later surrendered his Alabama license as well, according to reporting by WJHG. The suspension order cited additional alleged wrong-site errors and raised broader concerns about his documentation practices and overall patient safety.
Criminal Charge And Possible Penalties
Shaknovsky is charged with second-degree manslaughter under Florida law, a felony offense that can carry a prison term. Under state statute, manslaughter is treated as a second-degree felony that is punishable under the criminal code, including the possibility of up to 15 years in prison in many cases. For the exact wording and penalty ranges, the Florida statutes on manslaughter spell out the formal legal framework.
What’s Next
At his first court appearance, a judge set bond at $75,000, and Shaknovsky was later released after posting that bond. Local reports indicate his next court date is scheduled for May 19.
Prosecutors in the First Judicial Circuit will now determine how to move the case forward on the criminal side, while the Bryan family prepares its civil action. Local authorities say they will keep reviewing medical files and investigative records as they build out the case that will eventually be presented in court.
