HealthApril 17, 2026

When a Surgeon Removes the Wrong Organ: What Happened and Why It Matters

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

surgeon/ˈsɜːrdʒən/

a doctor who does operations

"The surgeon worked in the operating room."

splenectomy/spleˈnɛktəmi/

a surgery to remove the spleen

"He had a splenectomy planned for August."

suspension/səˈspɛnʃən/

a temporary stop or removal of a license or right

"The health department issued a suspension."

Listening

When a Surgeon Removes the Wrong Organ: What Happened and Why It Matters

A Florida surgeon removed a patient’s liver by mistake during an operation in August 2024 at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach. The planned operation was a laparoscopic splenectomy to remove the spleen. The patient was a 70-year-old man from Muscle Shoals, Alabama and he died on the operating table.

The surgeon, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, was arrested in April 2026 after a grand jury indictment returned a charge of second‑degree manslaughter. Florida’s Department of Health issued an emergency suspension of his osteopathic license in September 2024. He was later released on bond and is waiting for a court date.

101 words

Quiz

1. Who was arrested and charged?

2. Where did the operation take place?

3. What did Florida’s Department of Health do in September 2024?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you trust hospitals in your area to keep patients safe? Why or why not?

Have you ever had a medical test or operation? How did you feel about the care?

What do you think family members should ask a doctor before a surgery?