The family of Alabama man William Bryan claims that he died after his liver was mistakenly removed from his body during surgery at a Florida hospital. Bryan traveled to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Walton County, Florida for a splenectomy. Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky performed the procedure on Bryan after discussing the "risks, benefits and alternatives” to the 70-year-old and his wife. However, Dr. Shaknovsky is believed to have removed Bryan’s liver rather than his spleen, according to a surgical pathology report seen by the USA Today Network. "We take allegations like this very seriously, and our leadership team is performing a thorough investigation into this event. Patient safety is and remains our number one priority. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family. We hold the privacy of our patients in the highest regard," said Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in a statement. Bryan died during the surgery due to massive blood loss after the removal of the “large” spleen, per the operative report; however, the autopsy proved otherwise. A pathologist discovered that the organ initially labeled “spleen” was actually liver tissue. They then found Bryan’s actual spleen, which had a cyst attached, still in his body.