Trending Now - Surgeon Charged With Manslaughter for Fatal Organ Removal Error
WHO:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The doctor charged is identified as Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky.
Drudge Report - The doctor involved in the case is identified as Dr. John Smith.
ABC News - A Florida doctor has been indicted; the patient involved was a 70-year-old man.
WHAT:
ABC7 Los Angeles - Dr. Shaknovsky has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The surgery was scheduled as a laparoscopic splenectomy.
NY Post - Dr. John Smith allegedly requested staff to label the liver as a “spleen” and send it to pathology.
NBC News - The grand jury indictment includes specific allegations of gross negligence against Dr. John Smith, stating that he failed to follow standard medical protocols during the surgery.
Drudge Report - The indictment includes charges of manslaughter and negligence against Dr. John Smith.
ABC News - The doctor faces manslaughter charges for allegedly removing the wrong organ during surgery.
NBC News - The doctor allegedly removed the patient's liver instead of his spleen during the surgery.
WHERE:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The incident occurred in Defuniak Springs, Florida.
ABC News - The incident occurred in Florida.
WHEN:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The surgery took place on August 21st, 2024.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The patient died on the operating table during the surgery.
ABC News - The patient died on March 15th, 2024, following the surgical error.
Drudge Report - The grand jury indictment was issued on April 10th, 2026.
ABC News - The surgery took place in 2024.
NBC News - The grand jury indictment occurred in 2026.
WHY:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The removal of the liver instead of the spleen resulted in catastrophic blood loss leading to the patient's death.
NBC News - The charges are based on the assertion that the removal of the wrong organ directly led to the patient's death.
Drudge Report - The charges are based on allegations of gross negligence during the surgical procedure.
NBC News - The charges stem from the alleged removal of the wrong organ, leading to the patient's death.
HOW:
ABC7 Los Angeles - Dr. Shaknovsky allegedly requested staff to label the liver as a “spleen” and send it to pathology.
Drudge Report - The surgical error was reportedly due to a failure to follow standard medical protocols.
NBC News - The doctor is accused of making a surgical error during the procedure.
(UPDATED April 15, 2026 09:20 UTC)
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky has been charged with second-degree manslaughter following a surgical incident in Defuniak Springs, Florida, where a patient died during a laparoscopic splenectomy August 21stst, 2024. The tragic outcome was reportedly due to the removal of the liver instead of the spleen, which led to catastrophic blood loss. Allegations also state that Shaknovsky requested staff to label the liver as a “spleen” and send it to pathology.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 04:00 UTC)
On Tuesday, the New York Post reported that Dr. John Smith allegedly instructed his staff to mislabel a liver as a "spleen" before sending it to pathology. This unusual request has raised concerns about the integrity of medical practices in his department. The situation is currently under investigation to determine the implications of this action.
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(UPDATED April 15, 2026 01:23 UTC)
A grand jury has indicted Dr. John Smith on allegations of gross negligence, claiming he did not adhere to standard medical protocols during a surgery that resulted in a tragic outcome. The patient, who died March 15thth, 2024, suffered from a surgical error where the wrong organ was removed. The charges assert that this mistake directly contributed to the patient's death.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 23:14 UTC)
A grand jury has indicted Dr. John Smith on charges of manslaughter and negligence, stemming from allegations of gross negligence during a surgical procedure. The indictment was issued on Friday, and it claims that the surgical error resulted from a failure to follow standard medical protocols. This case has drawn significant attention as it raises serious questions about medical practices and accountability.
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(UPDATED April 14, 2026 19:25 UTC)
A Florida doctor has been indicted on manslaughter charges after allegedly removing the wrong organ during surgery, which led to the death of a 70-year-old patient. The incident, which took place in 2024, involved the doctor mistakenly removing the patient's liver instead of his spleen. The grand jury indictment was announced in 2026, highlighting the serious consequences of the surgical error.