Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky Faces Criminal Charges After Fatal Surgical Mistake

May 8, 2026, 21:49
USHealth

Introduction

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is being charged with manslaughter after a surgery to remove a patient's spleen went wrong. During the procedure, the doctor accidentally removed the patient's liver, which led to the patient's death.

Main Body

The incident happened in August 2024 to William Bryan, a 70-year-old man from Alabama. According to legal documents, Dr. Shaknovsky performed the surgery under difficult conditions with very few staff members available late in the day. Although the surgeon first claimed that the patient died because of a ruptured artery, a medical examiner's report proved this was false. The autopsy showed that the spleen was still in place; instead, the patient died from severe bleeding caused by damage to a major vein called the inferior vena cava. There is a clear disagreement between the doctor's testimony and the medical evidence. In November, Dr. Shaknovsky asserted that he was under extreme emotional stress and that the chaotic environment of the operating room made it difficult for him to tell the liver and spleen apart. Furthermore, he claimed the spleen was unusually large. However, the patient's relative, Beverly Bryan, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the surgeon tried to hide the mistake by telling staff to mislabel the organ and by giving false information about its size. As a result, the Florida Department of Health has suspended Dr. Shaknovsky's medical license, and he is now banned from practicing medicine in both Florida and Alabama. This follows a previous legal settlement regarding another patient's death. Dr. Shaknovsky, who now works as a ride-share driver, could face up to fifteen years in prison if he is convicted of second-degree manslaughter.

Conclusion

Dr. Shaknovsky is waiting for his court hearing on May 19, following a formal charge by a grand jury in Tallahassee.

Learning

⚡ The "Precision Pivot": Moving from A2 to B2

At the A2 level, you likely say "He said..." or "He told the truth." But to reach B2, you need nuance. In this medical scandal, the author doesn't just use "say." They use specific verbs to show how the person is speaking and how certain the information is.

🔍 The Power Shift: From Basic to Sophisticated

Check out how the text upgrades simple communication into professional, B2-level reporting:

  • Instead of "said" →\rightarrow Asserted

    • Context: "Dr. Shaknovsky asserted that he was under extreme emotional stress."
    • B2 Secret: Use assert when someone says something with great confidence, even if it might be wrong. It sounds stronger and more formal than "said."

  • Instead of "said it was a lie" →\rightarrow Alleging

    • Context: "...Beverly Bryan, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the surgeon tried to hide the mistake."
    • B2 Secret: Allege is the magic word for legal or formal situations. It means you claim something happened, but you haven't proven it in court yet. This is a key B2 vocabulary marker.

  • Instead of "claimed" →\rightarrow Testimony

    • Context: "...disagreement between the doctor's testimony and the medical evidence."
    • B2 Secret: Move from verbs to nouns. Instead of saying "what he said in court," use testimony. This shifts your English from "conversational" to "academic."

🛠️ Practical Application: The "Certainty Scale"

To sound more fluent, choose your verb based on the evidence:

Evidence LevelA2 Word (Basic)B2 Word (Advanced)Effect
Low / UnprovenSay / ThinkAllegeSounds objective/legal
High / FirmSay / TellAssertSounds confident/insistent
Official / LegalTalkTestify / TestimonySounds professional

Pro Tip: Next time you describe a conflict or a news story, stop using the word "say." Try to decide: is the person asserting a fact, or alleging a crime?

Vocabulary Learning

mislabel (v.)
to give an incorrect name or description to something
Example:The surgeon was accused of mislabeling the organ during the operation.
incident
A particular event or occurrence, especially one that is unusual or noteworthy.
Example:The incident at the hospital was investigated by the authorities.
chaotic (adj.)
very confused and disorderly
Example:The chaotic environment in the operating room made it hard to distinguish the liver from the spleen.
procedure
A series of actions performed in a particular order to achieve a result.
Example:The surgeon followed a strict procedure to ensure safety.
extreme (adj.)
very great or intense
Example:He claimed he was under extreme emotional stress during the surgery.
difficult
Hard to do or understand; not easy.
Example:The operation was difficult because of the limited staff.
emotional (adj.)
related to feelings or emotions
Example:The emotional stress made the doctor nervous.
conditions
The circumstances or state of affairs in which something exists.
Example:The conditions in the operating room were not ideal.
disagreement (n.)
a lack of agreement or conflict
Example:There was a disagreement between the doctor's testimony and the medical evidence.
staff
The people who work in an organization or place.
Example:Only a few staff members were present during the surgery.
testimony (n.)
a statement given in a legal proceeding
Example:The doctor's testimony was contradicted by the autopsy.
claimed
Said or asserted something as true.
Example:The doctor claimed he had no knowledge of the mistake.
evidence (n.)
information that supports a claim
Example:The medical evidence contradicted the surgeon's claim.
ruptured
Burst or tore open; broken.
Example:The artery was ruptured during the procedure.
artery
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
Example:Bleeding from the artery caused serious complications.
medical examiner
A professional who investigates the cause of death.
Example:The medical examiner’s report clarified the cause of death.
autopsy
A post‑mortem examination of a body to determine cause of death.
Example:The autopsy revealed that the spleen was still intact.
bleeding
The loss of blood from a body.
Example:Uncontrolled bleeding led to the patient’s death.
damage
Harm or injury to something.
Example:The damage to the vein was severe.
major
Important or significant.
Example:A major vein was damaged during the surgery.
vein
A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
Example:The inferior vena cava is a major vein.
disagreement
A lack of agreement or conflict between opinions.
Example:There was a disagreement between the doctor and the evidence.
testimony
A formal statement given in court.
Example:The doctor’s testimony conflicted with the evidence.
evidence
Facts or information that support a claim.
Example:The evidence showed that the liver was removed.
emotional
Related to feelings or emotions.
Example:He was under extreme emotional stress during the operation.
chaotic
Disorderly, confusing, lacking order.
Example:The chaotic environment made it hard to identify organs.
operating room
A room where surgical operations are performed.
Example:The operating room was crowded and noisy.
mislabel
To give an incorrect name or description to something.
Example:The doctor allegedly mislabelled the organ.
organ
A part of the body that performs a specific function.
Example:The liver is a vital organ.
false
Not true; incorrect.
Example:The claim was false according to the report.
information
Facts or details about something.
Example:The information provided was inaccurate.
suspended
Temporarily stopped or halted.
Example:His license was suspended by the health department.
license
A permit that allows someone to practice a profession.
Example:He lost his medical license.
practicing
Working in a profession or performing a task.
Example:He is no longer practicing medicine.
settlement
An agreement that ends a dispute.
Example:The settlement ended the lawsuit.
prison
A place where people are confined as punishment.
Example:He could face prison if convicted.
convicted
Found guilty in a court of law.
Example:He was convicted of manslaughter.
second-degree
A classification of crime that is less severe than first‑degree.
Example:Second‑degree manslaughter is a serious offense.
manslaughter
The unlawful killing of a person without intent.
Example:He was charged with manslaughter.
court
A tribunal where legal cases are heard.
Example:The case will be heard in court.
hearing
A session where evidence is presented to a judge.
Example:The hearing is scheduled for May 19.
grand jury
A group that decides whether to bring criminal charges.
Example:A grand jury issued the formal charge.
charge
A formal accusation of wrongdoing.
Example:He faced a charge of manslaughter.