A physician practicing in Florida, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, aged 44, is currently facing charges of second-degree manslaughter. These accusations stem from a fatal surgical procedure where it is alleged he mistakenly removed the patient's liver instead of the intended spleen.
Dr. Shaknovsky was apprehended on Monday, April 13, 2026, concluding a two- year inquiry conducted by local and state law enforcement in conjunction with medical regulatory bodies. The Walton County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest, which followed an indictment by a grand jury. Records indicate Dr. Shaknovsky is being held at the Walton County Jail with a bond set at $75,000. His medical licenses in Florida, Alabama, and New York had either been suspended or voluntarily surrendered prior to his arrest.
"The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process," stated Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
The incident dates back to August 2024 when a 70-year-old man from Alabama was admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach presenting with abdominal pain. Dr. Shaknovsky recommended surgery for the condition.
Initially, the patient expressed a desire to return home without undergoing an operation. However, Florida health officials noted in a 2024 emergency filing to suspend Dr. Shaknovsky's license that the osteopathic physician persuaded the patient to agree to a laparoscopic splenectomy.
The surgery was scheduled for the evening of August 21, 2024, after 5 p.m. This timing raised concerns among operating room staff, who reported a limited crew was on duty. Staff also voiced apprehension regarding the doctor's perceived lack of experience and competence in the emergency department setting.
According to documents cited in the emergency application, operating room personnel were aware that splenectomies are complex procedures that can rapidly become critical and were not routinely performed at Ascension. Dr. Shaknovsky initiated the procedure laparoscopically but subsequently decided to switch to an open surgery. The application suggests this conversion lacked proper documentation of the reasons behind it. During the open procedure, the patient experienced significant bleeding, and vital signs deteriorated, prompting the staff to declare an emergency.
A representative for Ascension Sacred Heart issued a statement clarifying that "Dr. Shaknovsky was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024. We remain focused on upholding the standards our patients and community expect of us."
In an interview with investigators post-surgery, Dr. Shaknovsky claimed he attempted to manage the patient's bleeding. He reportedly used a stapling device blindly within the abdomen, excising an organ he believed was the spleen. He later admitted to being unable to definitively identify the organ due to shock and the chaotic situation. Dr. Shaknovsky also suggested that an abnormally enlarged spleen and an unusual liver position contributed to his misidentification.
However, accounts from operating room witnesses describe a scene of considerable disarray and offer contrasting recollections. The emergency application details that a megacolon allegedly ruptured upon opening the patient's abdomen, obstructing the surgical field. While staff worked to clear the area, Dr. Shaknovsky reportedly identified a pulsing blood vessel, stapled it, and continued dissecting even as the abdomen filled with blood. It is alleged he failed to request essential surgical instruments such as a clamp or cauterizer.
Dr. Shaknovsky mentioned to assisting staff that he felt a pulsing vessel under his finger, which he intended to sever.
Ultimately, he proceeded to remove the liver, mistaking it for the spleen, despite the organ's distinct size, color, and anatomical position.
Staff members present reportedly expressed shock at this misidentification, according to the emergency application.
Despite resuscitation attempts, the patient was declared deceased.
Dr. Shaknovsky informed the staff that the cause of death was a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm and insisted that the removed organ be labeled as a "spleen" for pathological examination. However, the medical examiner found no evidence to support the claim of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm.
According to the emergency application, Dr. Shaknovsky has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the patient's organs exhibited abnormal anatomy or had shifted to an unusual location.
Documents related to applications to suspend or revoke Dr. Shaknovsky's medical licenses reveal a history of concerning medical incidents. An application from 2020 for an emergency suspension of his Florida medical license detailed another instance of patient harm. Prior to the fatal surgery, in July 2024, Dr. Shaknovsky performed surgery on a 58-year-old man, removing a portion of his pancreas instead of the adrenal gland during an adrenalectomy, as reported by Florida's Department of Health. Dr. Shaknovsky documented the removal of the left adrenal gland and later contended that the gland had "migrated." Health department officials stated the patient suffered permanent injuries as a result of this error. Public records show that the Florida Department of Health suspended Dr. Shaknovsky's license in September 2024.
The widow of the patient who died in 2024 alerted the Alabama Board of Licenses to Dr. Shaknovsky's alleged involvement in her husband's death. Consequently, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners filed a complaint against Dr. Shaknovsky, temporarily suspending his Alabama license, which he had held since 2016.
The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission issued an order stating that Dr. Shaknovsky "may constitute an immediate danger to his patients and the public."
He relinquished his license on November 7, 2024, according to Alabama's medical license records. The application filed with the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners to suspend Dr. Shaknovsky's license also referenced two prior surgical errors in 2023, one of which reportedly resulted in another fatality.
In July 2023, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners reported that Dr. Shaknovsky was scheduled to perform an ileostomy, a procedure to create an opening for the small intestine through the abdominal wall. Instead, he reportedly opted for a bowel resection, which led to a perforation. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she later died.
His medical license in New York state, which he obtained in 2015, was suspended in 2025.
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