Plastic Surgeon Charged with Manslaughter in Wife's Death After Procedure

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Benjamin Brown, a plastic surgeon based in the Florida Panhandle, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence after his wife, Hillary Brown, suffered a cardiac arrest and died days after undergoing after-hours procedures at his clinic last year.

Authorities have stated that Benjamin Brown intended to plead not guilty to the charges. His defense attorney, Barry Beroset, asserted that they would vigorously fight the allegations against him in court. An arraignment has been scheduled for next month.

According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Hillary Brown went into cardiac arrest in November while undergoing various procedures at her husband's clinic in the Pensacola area. She was subsequently taken to a hospital but tragically passed away a week later.

Last month, the Florida Department of Health filed an administrative complaint before the state Board of Medicine, seeking penalties against Benjamin Brown, including the possibility of license revocation or suspension. The complaint not only pertained to Hillary Brown's case but also included other instances.

The Department of Health complaint revealed that Hillary Brown had prepared her own local anesthesia and filled intravenous bags for the procedures, which included arm liposuction, lip injections, and an ear adjustment. She had also ingested several pills, including a sedative, painkiller, and antibiotic, prior to falling into a sedated state. However, the consumption of these pills was not documented.

The complaint emphasized that physicians are expected to adhere to the minimum prevailing professional standard of care, which prohibits patients from preparing their own medication for use in surgery.

During the procedures, Hillary Brown experienced symptoms such as twitching feet and blurred vision. Benjamin Brown attempted to address these symptoms by injecting more lidocaine, an anesthetic, into her face. However, she ultimately became unresponsive and suffered a seizure.

According to the complaint, a medical assistant repeatedly asked Benjamin Brown if they should call 911, but he initially declined. It was only after approximately 10 to 20 minutes, when Hillary Brown's breathing became shallow and her pulse and blood oxygen levels dropped, that he instructed his assistants to call for paramedics and began performing resuscitation efforts.

However, a medical assistant informed investigators that she was the one who made the decision to call 911, not Benjamin Brown. Emergency room doctors at the hospital where Hillary Brown was taken revealed that they had treated her for lidocaine toxicity.

Last month, the Department of Health issued an emergency order restricting Benjamin Brown's license, stipulating that he can only perform procedures at a hospital under the supervision of another physician. The order also highlighted that Hillary Brown had been administering injections and performing laser treatments on patients, despite lacking the appropriate licensure.

Regarding the procedures involving his wife, the order characterized Benjamin Brown's treatment as "careless and haphazard," highlighting that muscle twitches and blurred vision are early signs of lidocaine toxicity.

"The level of disregard that Dr. Brown paid to patient safety, even when the patient was his wife, indicates that Dr. Brown is unwilling or incapable of providing the appropriate level of care for his future patients," the order stated.

Benjamin Brown has since been released from Santa Rosa County Jail after posting a $50,000 bond. As legal proceedings continue, the case has raised concerns about patient safety and the responsibilities of medical professionals.