Doctor in Trouble After Big Mistake

May 8, 2026, 21:49
USHealth

Introduction

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is in trouble with the law. He tried to remove a patient's spleen, but he removed the liver instead. The patient died.

Main Body

The mistake happened in August 2024. The patient was William Bryan. He was 70 years old. The doctor said the patient died for other reasons. But a second doctor checked the body. This doctor found that the spleen was still there. The patient died because the doctor cut the wrong organ. Dr. Shaknovsky says he was very stressed. He says the room was chaotic. He says he could not tell the difference between the liver and the spleen. However, the patient's family says the doctor lied. They say he tried to hide the mistake. Now, the government took away his medical license. He cannot work as a doctor in Florida or Alabama. He is now a taxi driver. He might go to prison for 15 years.

Conclusion

The doctor must go to court on May 19.

Learning

πŸ•’ The 'Past' Secret

Look at how the story talks about things that are finished. We use simple words to show the past.

The Pattern: Word + -ed β†’\rightarrow Finished Action

  • Try β†’\rightarrow Tried
  • Happen β†’\rightarrow Happened
  • Check β†’\rightarrow Checked

⚠️ The 'Special' Past Words

Some words don't follow the -ed rule. You just have to memorize them!

  • Is/Are β†’\rightarrow Was/Were (Example: He was 70 years old.)
  • Say β†’\rightarrow Said (Example: The doctor said the patient died.)
  • Take β†’\rightarrow Took (Example: The government took away his license.)

πŸ’‘ Quick Tip for A2

To describe a bad event in the past, start with The [Thing] happened in [Date].

Example: The mistake happened in August 2024.