{"aiVersion":"1","content":{"id":"cmo27glxb0004b961ilqtpj8o","slug":"when-a-surgeon-removes-the-wrong-organ-what-happen-20260417","title":"When a Surgeon Removes the Wrong Organ: What Happened and Why It Matters","level":"MEDIUM","publishedAt":"2026-04-17T01:04:10.535Z"},"topic":{"slug":"when-a-surgeon-removes-the-wrong-organ-what-happen-20260417","category":"health"},"article":{"paragraphs":["On August 21, 2024, a 70-year-old man underwent a laparoscopic splenectomy at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida. Surgeons intended to remove the spleen, but the patient’s liver was cut and removed instead. The mistake caused catastrophic blood loss and the patient died on the operating table. Florida health officials later suspended the surgeon’s license after investigators reviewed the case and related records.","The surgeon, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, has been indicted by a grand jury in April 2026 on a charge of second‑degree manslaughter. He was arrested in Miramar Beach and later released on bond while he waits for a court date. The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency suspension order in September 2024 that described repeated surgical errors and record problems. The emergency order was signed by State Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo. State documents described earlier errors, including an incident in 2023 when part of a patient’s pancreas was removed instead of an adrenal gland. Hospitals and medical boards in multiple states later reviewed his cases."],"wordCount":172,"readTime":2},"vocabulary":[{"word":"laparoscopic","example":"She had a laparoscopic procedure last year.","phonetic":"/ˌlæpəˈrɒskəpɪk/","definition":"a type of surgery with small cuts and a camera"},{"word":"liver","example":"The surgeon removed part of the liver.","phonetic":"/ˈlɪvər/","definition":"a large organ in the upper belly that helps clean the blood"},{"word":"indicted","example":"He was indicted in April 2026.","phonetic":"/ɪnˈdaɪtɪd/","definition":"formally charged with a crime by a grand jury"},{"word":"emergency suspension","example":"The emergency suspension began in September 2024.","phonetic":"/ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi səˈspɛnʃən/","definition":"a quick action by authorities to stop a license right away"}],"quiz":[{"answer":"On August 21, 2024","question":"When did the surgery happen?"},{"answer":"Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida","question":"Where did the operation take place?"},{"answer":"second‑degree manslaughter","question":"What charge did the grand jury return?"}],"discussion":[{"question":"Have you ever had to make a quick decision in a stressful situation? What happened?"},{"question":"Do you talk with family about health decisions before a trip or holiday? Why or why not?"},{"question":"What questions would you ask a surgeon before a planned operation?"},{"question":"How important is medical licensing to your trust in doctors?"}]}