Surgeon Faces Manslaughter Charges
A notable plastic surgeon from Florida, Benjamin Jacob Brown, handed himself over to the authorities this week. The medical expert is facing serious accusations linked to the death of his wife, Hillary Ellington Brown, who tragically passed away during a cosmetic procedure he performed on her last year. He is now facing a second-degree felony homicide: manslaughter by culpable negligence.
The Unfortunate Incident
The incident took place at Restore Plastic Surgery in Gulf Breeze in November 2023. The mother of three endured an abrupt medical crisis during a series of cosmetic procedures her husband was performing on her at his clinic. Unfortunately, she later passed away after a week on life support at a neighboring hospital.
Investigation Points Your Finger
An investigation led by the Florida Health Department revealed disturbing details about that unfortunate day. Apparently, Brown didn’t promptly call 911 when his wife’s heart stopped, which is a standard procedure in such emergencies. He also allegedly waited up to 20 minutes before starting CPR.
Adding to the list of reported mishaps, Brown did not have the necessary life-saving equipment at hand in his office. There are also indications he did not adhere to the standard medical guidelines when administering the sedatives to his wife.
License Suspension and Procedure Details
The Florida Department of Health subsequently filed a restriction order for Brown’s medical license in May. According to the documents, his wife was scheduled to receive multiple procedures on the day she encountered heart problems. These included a mini muscle plication, abdominal scar revision, arm liposuction, lip injections and ear adjustment surgeries.
On the said day, she prepared her own IV bags and consumed a variety of pills, including Valium. The proceedings took a turn for the worse while undergoing liposuction. Hillary became restless, her feet started twitching, and her vision blurred. She mentioned to Brown that she was seeing ‘orange’, a symptom indicative of lidocaine toxicity.
Lidocaine Toxicity: The Real Culprit
Postmortem investigations clarified the cause of her death as complications following lidocaine toxicity. Lidocaine is a common local anesthetic used in various minor surgical procedures, but in excessive levels, it can lead to poisoning, causing symptoms like Hillary experienced.
Brown Behind Bars
As of Tuesday, Brown found himself in the Santa Rosa County Jail ahead of trial proceedings. This devastating incident shines a spotlight on the grave responsibilities that come with the storied profession of medicine and the irreversible consequences that negligence can lead to. The future of Brown’s medical career now hangs in the balance as he awaits further legal action. The tragic loss of Hillary, a young mother of three, underscores the seriousness of the charges leveled against Brown.
Investigations are ongoing, and more updates should surface soon. Several questions remain unanswered, such as why Brown chose to perform such intensive procedures on his wife without ensuring proper emergency safeguards were in place. This case has instigated a nationwide conversation on medical ethics and proper patient care, which will surely continue as the trial unfolds.