Doctor Accused of Removing Wrong Organ Leading to Patient's Death Was Driving Lyft When Arrested
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
A Florida surgeon accused of causing a patient’s death by removing the liver instead of the spleen during surgery was arrested while driving for Lyft in a dramatic confrontation, as shown in body camera footage obtained by NBC News. The video reveals Walton County Sheriff’s deputies approaching Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s Mitsubishi SUV with guns drawn on April 13. Shaknovsky, 44, appeared confused as officers handcuffed him at a busy intersection in Miramar Beach, Florida, while passengers sat in the back seat. The arrest stemmed from a second-degree manslaughter charge related to the death of 70-year-old William Bryan during a laparoscopic surgery on August 21, 2024. Shaknovsky’s medical license was suspended shortly after the incident, and he faces additional lawsuits for alleged medical negligence. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. Lyft has not commented on the matter.