A Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Jacob Brown, has been charged with second-degree felony homicide and 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 November 21, 2023, when officers responded to an emergency call reporting cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, first responders found Hillary unresponsive, suffering from cardiac arrest. She was later transported to a hospital, where she was placed on life support. Tragically, she passed away seven days later.
According to a state report obtained by Law & Crime, on 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 reportedly prepared her own anesthesia and consumed a “handful” of pills, including Valium, prior to entering the operating room, where her husband administered additional anesthesia.
During the procedure, Hillary began to experience blurred vision, muscle twitching, and a sensation of seeing “orange”—early signs of anesthesia toxicity. When she became unresponsive and suffered a seizure, a medical assistant advised Brown to initiate an emergency response and call 911.
However, Brown allegedly refused, telling the assistant to “wait” as he demanded to know what medications his wife had taken. According to the report, Brown delayed calling for emergency help for 10 to 20 minutes before eventually instructing his assistant to call 911.
Hillary’s cause of 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 action during the emergency. Hillary’s father, Marty Ellington, expressed relief over Brown’s arrest, telling the Pensacola News Journal: “My family lives in a sea 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 oxygen deprivation to her brain and ultimately causing her death. Ben Brown took the mother from 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.