News

Man Dies After Florida Surgeon Mistakenly Removes His Liver Instead of Spleen

Published

3 months ago

2024-09-05

Florida surgeon mistakenly removes patient's liver instead of spleen

A Florida surgeon mistakenly removed a man’s liver instead of his spleen - File Image

An attorney for the man’s widow in Florida claims that a surgeon inadvertently removed his liver instead of his spleen, resulting in his death on the operating table.

According to a statement from Zarzaur Law, a personal injury firm based in Pensacola, Florida, William Bryan, 70, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, underwent surgery on Aug. 21 at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar, Florida, due to spleen abnormalities.

In a statement to NBC News on Wednesday, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office announced that it is investigating the death of Bryan in collaboration with other authorities.

Beverly Bryan’s solicitors stated that William Bryan began experiencing “left-sided flank pain” while visiting their rental property in the Sunshine State.

Despite the Bryans’ reluctance to undergo surgery in Florida, they were convinced by Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, a general surgeon, and Dr. Christopher Bacani, the hospital’s chief medical officer, that he could experience severe complications if he were to leave the hospital’s care. Consequently, he was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.

According to records, both Shaknovsky and Bacani were involved in discussions regarding the course of Bryan’s medical treatment, according to Beverly Bryan’s counsel, Joe Zarzaur, in the statement.

Zarzaur stated that Shaknovsky’s hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy on William Bryan resulted in fatal complications.

“Dr. Shaknovsky removed Mr. Bryan’s liver, which resulted in an immediate and catastrophic blood loss that led to his death by transsecting the major vasculature that supplied the liver.” “The surgeon classified the liver specimen that was removed as a “spleen.” It was not until after Mr. Bryan’s death that it was discovered that the organ that was removed was actually his liver, not a “spleen.””

Zarzaur alleges that Shaknovsky informed Beverly Bryan that her husband’s spleen was so diseased that it had grown four times its normal size and had relocated to the opposite side of his body. However, in a typical human organism, the liver is located on the opposite side of the abdomen and is significantly larger than a spleen, he stated.

The Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital issued a statement on Wednesday stating that it is conducting a “detailed investigation” into Bryan’s death and is “extremely concerned” about the allegations made by his family.

“Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has a longstanding history of providing safe, quality care since the hospital opened its doors in 2003,” according to the statement. “Our primary concern is and will always be patient safety.” The family is in our thoughts and prayers. Our patients’ privacy is of the utmost importance to us. We refrain from providing commentary on active litigation or specific patient cases.

The average human spleen is approximately the size of an avocado, and the average human liver is approximately the size of a football, according to the Cleveland Clinic..

The statement stated that Mr. Bryan’s spleen, which was the source of his initial symptom profile upon admission to the hospital, was still present in his body and exhibited a small lesion on its surface.

Zarzaur stated that Shaknovsky had committed a comparable error in 2023, when he removed portions of a pancreas instead of an adrenal gland in a case that was privately resolved.

On Wednesday afternoon, the employment status of Shaknovsky and Bacani was not immediately apparent. They were unable to provide a response. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement reporting that the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s death are under investigation by the authorities.

“The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney, is currently conducting a review of the circumstances surrounding the death of William Bryan to ascertain whether any criminal activity occurred.”

Beverly Bryan does not wish for Shaknovsky to conduct any additional operations, as per Zarzaur.

“Dr. Shaknovsky operated on my husband, who died while he was unable to assist himself on the operating table.” The statement from her attorney stated, “I am determined to prevent any additional deaths as a result of his incompetence at a hospital that should have been aware or knew that he had previously made drastic, life-altering surgical errors.”

Zarzaur stated that she is advocating for both criminal and civil proceedings.

“Our objective at Zarzaur Law is to bring justice to the Bryan family and enhance the safety of our community by addressing each case individually,” he stated. “Although the majority of physicians are performing exceptional work to maintain our health, there is a small minority who should not be practicing medicine.”

Shaknovsky’s medical license is currently active, with the Florida Board of Medicine verifying this information on Wednesday afternoon. Records indicate that this is also the case for Bacani.

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News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

7 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

7 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

8 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)