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Florida surgeon ‘devastated’ over death of patient after removing liver instead of spleen
(www.theguardian.com)
Thomas Shaknovsky botched the surgery of William Bryan, 70, who died on the operating table
According to Shaknovksy’s deposition, after removing Bryan’s liver, the surgeon instructed a nurse to label the organ as a “spleen” – and he also identified it as a spleen in Bryan’s postoperative notes. Shaknovsky later said he had been “mentally compromised” at the time of Bryan’s death, explaining that he was “devastated, demoralized, crying over his passing, felt that I failed him”.
I'm all for admitting I misread something, but if you read the article, the real bleeding started before the mistake. Surgeon was wrist-deep in blood, can't see what he has his hands on, and thinks the enlarged spleen is the liver. They've been wrestling with the bleeding for 20 minutes, so everyone is now in a panic. Then the mistake, no?
It's an awful situation, but folks around here are acting like the guy was inept or trying to avoid responsibility or something. Seems to me like this could happen to any decent surgeon with the right conditions.
He was definitely inept. There were reports of prior medical malpractice by him: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctor-indicted-liver-spleen-fatal-surgery-thomas-shaknovsky/
Boom. That's all I need to hear.
Alright, fuck this guy.
I figure, if he were a good surgeon & made a bad mistake, that's one thing.