Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, 44, a Florida doctor previously accused of making a fatal medical mistake, was arrested on April 13, 2024, while working a shift for the ride-sharing service Lyft. His arrest took place in Miramar Beach, Florida, while he was transporting two passengers in his Mitsubishi, leading to a shocking and frightening encounter for the riders, who were unaware of his past.
Arrest While Driving Lyft
According to body-camera footage obtained by NBC News, Shaknovsky was pulled from his car and handcuffed by officers of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, who had arrived at the scene with guns drawn.
The passengers, who had just been picked up from their hotel, were reportedly terrified, fearing a robbery. “That scared the crap out of us,” one of the passengers said, while the other humorously remarked, “We’re not using Lyft again. From now on, we’re using Uber.”
Shaknovsky had been driving for Lyft for over a year, maintaining a five-star rating on the platform under his middle name, Jacob. However, once Lyft was made aware of his arrest, the company removed him from the platform.
The Fatal Surgical Mistake
Shaknovsky is facing charges of second-degree manslaughter after allegedly performing a fatal surgery on 70-year-old William Bryan in August 2024. Shaknovsky mistakenly removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen during a laparoscopic splenectomy.
Bryan, a resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, was undergoing surgery to remove his spleen after being pressured by Shaknovsky to proceed despite expressing a desire to go home.
The surgery turned tragic when Shaknovsky encountered difficulty and decided to convert the procedure into a more invasive open surgery. Shaknovsky reportedly cut and stapled vessels around Bryan’s liver, causing a massive hemorrhage that led to cardiac arrest.
Despite efforts from the medical team to revive Bryan, Shaknovsky continued with the operation, even though he had incorrectly identified the liver as the spleen. Bryan was later pronounced dead on the operating table.
The medical error was ruled a homicide caused by the wrongful removal of Bryan’s liver. Shaknovsky had initially claimed that Bryan died from a splenic artery aneurysm, but the cause of death was ultimately determined to be the removal of the wrong organ.
Prior Legal Issues
This is not Shaknovsky’s first run-in with the law regarding medical malpractice. Before Bryan’s death, Shaknovsky was already facing a medical negligence lawsuit related to the 2020 death of Dorothy Dorsett, 70. Her family claimed that Shaknovsky failed to prevent fatal sepsis after performing surgery to remove a mass from her body.
Legal Consequences and Upcoming Court Date
If convicted of manslaughter in Bryan’s death, Shaknovsky faces up to 15 years in prison. His medical license was revoked following the fatal mistake, and he is scheduled for arraignment on May 19, 2024, in connection with Bryan’s death.
The case has highlighted the severe consequences of medical negligence and the shocking turn of events that led to Shaknovsky’s arrest while working as a Lyft driver. His legal troubles are far from over, and more details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
