DESTIN, Fla. (WEAR) — A Northwest Florida doctor is accused of removing the wrong organ during a recent surgery, allegedly resulting in the death of an Alabama man.

William Bryan died Aug. 21 just two days before his 34th wedding anniversary when his liver was removed during an operation that was intended to remove his spleen. He was 70 years old.

His widow Beverly is now demanding accountability.

"I know I'm not the only wife that's lost their husband suddenly," she said. "But the loss of my Bill was exceptionally unnecessary and brutal."

Beverly and Bill traveled from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to enjoy a vacation at their condo in Destin. While they were there, Bill began feeling pain on his left side.

"We went to Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast and he was admitted and became a patient of Dr. [Thomas] Shaknovsky," Beverly said.

After running tests, she said doctors identified a cyst that had ruptured and bled around his spleen. She said she wanted to bring Bill back to his own doctors in north Alabama.

"I tried to convince Dr.Shaknovsky to let me take him home or arrange to be transported," she said. "But Dr.Shaknovsky said that Bill would bleed to death if he was moved."

On Aug. 21, Bill underwent surgery to remove his spleen -- but by that evening, he was dead.

They took him from us while he was completely helpless on an operating room table," Beverly said. "They removed his liver instead of his spleen, so of course he bled to death on the operating room table.

"Everyone knows you can't live without your liver," she added. "It's about the same thing as if they'd pulled out his heart."

According to a report from Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is identified as the primary surgeon.

Pensacola attorney Joe Zarzaur, who was hired by the family, gave WEAR News what is called the "operative documentation" from the hospital. It details the operation and what led up to it.

The document reveals Bill Bryan was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 18. Several tests were performed, including an MRI and a CT scan.

"My client went to Sacred Heart Emerald Coast with right flank pain, discomfort," Zarzauer said, "and he was treated and Dr. Shaknovsky recommended that he go through a splenectomy -- which is removal of the spleen."

When Bill went into surgery, Zarzaur said that’s when something went wrong.

The report states Bill lost a lot of blood during the procedure -- and his blood pressure dropped abruptly, sending him into cardiac arrest. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, according to the document.

Zarzaur also provided the hospital's surgical pathology report. It showed the organ labeled "spleen" was something else.

Dr. Shaknovsky was intending to take the spleen out," Zarzaur said. "When the spleen was sent to pathology at the hospital, the pathologist at the hospital, after the procedure was over, said, 'This is not a spleen, this is a liver.'

Zarzaur pointed to the operative document, saying that's not what the doctor reported.

"The doctor reported as if it was a spleen complication and that the patient had actually died from a spleen operation that went bad," Zarzaur said.

Zarzaur intends to file a civil lawsuit.

Meanwhile, the Walton County Sheriff's Office confirms it is investigating the death of William Bryan, providing WEAR News this statement:

Walton County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the District 1 Medical Examiner's Office and Office of the State Attorney is reviewing the facts involving the death of William Bryan to determine if anything criminal took place. At this time, it would be incorrect to say criminal charges have been filed. Our agency asks for the public's patience as these cases are extremely complex and take time to investigate. The only reliable source of information regarding any criminal case will come from our office.

WEAR News asked Ascension Sacred Heart about the incident, as well as Dr. Shaknovsky's relationship with the hospital.

The hospital did not answer the questions; it only provided a statement saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Sacred Heart Emerald Coast’s leadership is investigating this matter."

"[Beverly] wants the criminal case to proceed," Zarzaur said. "She wants a culpable negligence case on the criminal side. And she wants everybody -- whether it's one doctor or doctors and nurses or multiple doctors and a hospital -- she wants everybody to be held responsible so that they don't let this happen again. Your risk management team shouldn't be more robust than your credentialing team at a hospital."

Bill Bryan leaves behind three children and eight grandchildren. Beverly described him as honest, kind and dependable.

She said he deserves justice.

"Our family and community is devastated of what has happened," she added. "And we feel it is our duty to spread awareness and warn others."