A Walton County Grand Jury has indicted Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky on a charge of second-degree manslaughter following the death of a 70-year-old Alabama man during a 2024 surgery.
The indictment, announced by the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, follows a lengthy investigation into a procedure where a surgeon reportedly removed the wrong organ.
On August 21, 2024, the victim, a resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, underwent what was supposed to be a routine laparoscopic splenectomy.
During the operation, investigators found that Shaknovsky mistakenly removed the patient’s liver instead of the spleen. The error resulted in catastrophic blood loss, and the man died on the operating table.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation alongside state and medical authorities to determine if the error met the threshold for criminal charges.
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On April 13, 2026, the Grand Jury concluded there was probable cause to move forward, finding that the actions in the operating room constituted criminal conduct under Florida law.
“Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor,” Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson stated following the arrest. “The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss.”
Shaknovsky was taken into custody in Miramar Beach on Monday morning. He was transported to the Walton County Jail, where he is currently being held pending his first court appearance.
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