A Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Jacob Brown, has been charged with second-degree felony murder and involuntary manslaughter following the tragic death of his wife, Hillary Brown, during a procedure at his clinic. Brown turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued.
The incident occurred at his practice, restore plastic surgery, in Gulf Breeze on Nov. 21, 2023, when officers responded to an emergency call reporting a cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, first responders found Hillary unconscious and suffering from cardiac arrest. She was later taken to a hospital, where she was placed on life support. Tragically, he died seven days later.
According to a state report obtained by Law and crimeOn the day of the incident, Hillary was scheduled to undergo several cosmetic procedures, including abdominal scar revision, bilateral arm liposuction, lip injections, and ear adjustments. Despite lacking formal medical training, she allegedly prepared her own anesthesia and consumed a “handful” of pills, including Valium, before entering the operating room, where her husband administered additional anesthesia.
During the procedure, Hillary began to experience blurred vision, muscle twitches, and the sensation of seeing “orange”—early signs of anesthesia toxicity. When he became unresponsive and suffered a seizure, a medical assistant advised Brown to initiate an emergency. respond and call 911.
However, Brown allegedly refused and told the assistant to “wait” while he demanded to know what medications his wife had taken. According to the reportBrown delayed calling for emergency help for 10 to 20 minutes before finally instructing his assistant to call 911.
The cause of Hillary’s death was later determined to be “complications following lidocaine toxicity.” The state medical board concluded that Brown’s treatment was “careless” and that he failed to take appropriate measures during the emergency. Hillary’s father, Marty Ellington, expressed relief at Brown’s arrest and told the Pensacola News Journal: “My family lives in a flood of tears for eternity due to the actions of one careless individual.”
He went on to say: “His ego and arrogance overshadowed the need for help, prolonging the lack of oxygen to his brain and ultimately causing his death. “Ben Brown took the mother of my grandchildren, my only daughter and our brightest star.”
This tragic case has raised serious questions about Brown’s conduct and decision-making as a medical professional, underscoring the importance of strict adherence to emergency protocols during medical procedures.