Florida doctor indicted after allegedly removing patient's liver instead of spleen

U.S. Florida doctor indicted after allegedly removing patient's liver instead of spleen in fatal surgery By Cara Tabachnick Cara Tabachnick News Editor Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at cara.tabachnick@cbsinteractive.com Read Full Bio Cara Tabachnick April 14, 2026 / 5:40 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A Florida doctor is facing charges of second-degree manslaughter following a fatal surgery where he allegedly removed a patient's liver instead of the spleen.Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, was arrested Monday after a two-year investigation into the August 2024 death of a 70-year-old Alabama man conducted by local and state law enforcement in collaboration with medical authorities, the Walton County Sheriff's Office said.Dr. Shaknovsky, who is licensed to practice medicine in Florida, Alabama and New York, is now being held at the Walton County Jail on a $75,000 bond, according to correction records, after a grand jury returned an indictment. His medical licenses were all suspended or turned in before his recent arrest."The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process," Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a statement. A chaotic operative scene When the Alabama man first arrived at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach with abdominal pain on Aug. 18, 2024, Dr. Shaknovsky recommended surgery.The patient refused an operation at first and wanted to return home, Florida health officials said in a 2024 emergency application to suspend Dr. Shaknovsky's license. Ultimately, the patient conceded under pressure from Dr. Shaknovsky, an osteopathic physician, to a laparoscopic splenectomy. The procedure was scheduled late in the day on Aug. 21, 2024,...