Surgeon Charged After Botched Surgeries Lead to Patient Deaths

Two patients died after undergoing procedures by Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Florida.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:48am

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image showing a human liver and spleen, with the liver slightly misaligned, conveying the concept of a botched surgery that led to a patient's death.An X-ray image reveals the tragic consequences of a surgeon's mistake, highlighting the need for greater accountability in healthcare.Bentonville Today

A surgeon in Florida has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after allegedly removing a patient's liver instead of their spleen during a procedure. This comes after another patient, Dorothy Dorsett, died following a surgery performed by the same doctor at the same hospital in 2023. Dorsett's family has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by the doctor and the hospital.

Why it matters

These tragic cases highlight ongoing concerns about medical errors and lack of accountability in the healthcare system. They also raise questions about the hospital's oversight and credentialing processes for surgeons.

The details

In July 2023, Dorothy Dorsett, 70, underwent surgery by Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital to remove a tumor. Her condition rapidly deteriorated after the procedure, and she died days later. A year later, in August 2024, Shaknovsky was accused of accidentally removing patient William Bryan's liver instead of his spleen during a scheduled surgery. Bryan also died as a result. Shaknovsky has denied wrongdoing in Dorsett's case but was indicted on a manslaughter charge for Bryan's death.

  • On July 24, 2023, Dorothy Dorsett was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain.
  • On July 27, 2023, Shaknovsky performed surgery to remove a tumor from Dorsett's digestive tract.
  • On August 2, 2023, Dorsett was moved to the ICU as her condition deteriorated.
  • On August 4, 2023, Dorsett passed away.
  • On August 21, 2024, Shaknovsky allegedly removed Bryan's liver instead of his spleen.

The players

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky

The surgeon who performed the surgeries on Dorothy Dorsett and William Bryan, leading to their deaths. He has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in Bryan's case.

Weyman Dorsett

The son of Dorothy Dorsett, who has filed a lawsuit against Shaknovsky and Ascension Sacred Heart hospital alleging negligence in his mother's care and death.

Dorothy Dorsett

A 70-year-old woman who died after undergoing surgery performed by Dr. Shaknovsky at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in 2023.

William Bryan

A 70-year-old patient who died after Shaknovsky allegedly removed his liver instead of his spleen during a scheduled surgery in 2024.

Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast

The hospital where Shaknovsky performed the surgeries on Dorsett and Bryan.

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What they’re saying

“I'll never forget and it'll never leave my mind, the look on that doctor's face as he was reading through the files. ... He was just shaking his head, like: 'what in the living hell is going on?'”

— Weyman Dorsett, Son of Dorothy Dorsett

“Until you go through it yourself, and to be there with my mom and watch her suffer, and to be there when she takes her last breath has been devastating. I suffer every day. It's a haunting memory that I can't erase out of my mind.”

— Weyman Dorsett, Son of Dorothy Dorsett

What’s next

Shaknovsky's criminal case for William Bryan's death is ongoing, and Weyman Dorsett's civil lawsuit against Shaknovsky and the hospital over his mother's death also remains active.

The takeaway

These tragic cases underscore the need for greater accountability and oversight in the medical profession, as well as the devastating impact that surgical errors can have on patients and their families.