1776Reporting
A heartbreaking case of medical negligence has left a family mourning after a father of three passed away on the operating table due to a surgical mistake. William Bryan, 70, tragically died at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Walton County, Florida, after a doctor mistakenly removed his liver instead of his spleen during surgery, according to his family’s attorney.
The unfortunate event occurred while Bryan and his wife Beverly were visiting their vacation property in Okaloosa County, Florida. After experiencing lower left abdominal pain, Bryan sought medical attention at the hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with hemoperitoneum, which involves internal bleeding, and a splenic injury. His wife initially hesitated to proceed with surgery, hoping to wait until they returned to their home in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. However, doctors advised that immediate surgery was critical to avoid life-threatening complications, stated Joe Zarzaur, the attorney representing Beverly Bryan.
On August 21st, William Bryan underwent what was supposed to be a routine splenectomy, a procedure to remove the spleen. Surgeon Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky performed the operation after discussing the risks and benefits with the couple. However, in a devastating turn of events, the doctor mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver, a mistake that ultimately led to his death.
The removal of Bryan’s liver caused severe blood loss, according to Zarzaur. The doctor didn’t initially recognize the error, mislabeling the removed liver as the spleen, said the attorney. By the time the mistake was discovered, it was too late to save Bryan’s life.
An autopsy later revealed that Bryan’s spleen, which had only a small, treatable cyst, remained intact inside his body. “The spleen had a small cyst on it that had some hemorrhage around it, but it was not a fatal issue,” Zarzaur explained. “It probably would have been very treatable.”
Beverly Bryan, heartbroken by the loss of her husband of 33 years, expressed her grief and anger at the mistake. Describing William Bryan as “such a good man,” she shared that their entire family, including their three children and eight grandchildren, has been left devastated by his sudden death. “We have three children and eight grandchildren, and they’re grateful for the time that they had with him too,” she said.
In a powerful statement, Beverly voiced her pain and frustration over the preventable tragedy. “They took him from us while he was completely helpless on the operating table. They removed his liver instead of his spleen, so of course, he bled to death on the operating table.”
She went on to describe her husband’s death as “unnecessary and brutal,” expressing how the loss has affected not only her family but their entire community in Alabama. “He brought joy to every life that he ever touched. He was the best husband and father that I could have possibly asked for.”
Beverly Bryan also vowed to seek justice for her husband, saying, “I’ll get through this, and I’m going to be strong for him because he deserves justice for this.”
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital has since responded to the incident with a statement, expressing that they are conducting a “thorough investigation.” The hospital acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating: “We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event.”
They emphasized that patient safety remains their top priority, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family. We hold the privacy of our patients in the highest regard. We do not comment on specific patient cases or active litigation.”
As the investigation continues, the Bryan family is left grappling with their grief, hoping that their pursuit of justice will bring some measure of peace after such an unimaginable loss.
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