Plastic surgeon charged with killing his own wife on his operating table
A plastic surgeon who allegedly refused to call 911 for 20 minutes after his wife went into cardiac arrest during a cosmetic procedure has been charged with her murder.
Florida police were called to Restore Plastic Surgery in November last year, after Benjamin Jacob Brown reported that his own wife - Hillary Ellington Brown - appeared to be suffering a heart attack in the midst of an an aesthetic operation.
The victim was scheduled to undergo a miniature muscle plication/abdominal scar revision on the day she suffered a cardiac arrest, as well as bilateral arm liposuction, lip injections, and ear adjustment procedures.
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Hillary was subsequently rushed to a local hospital where she received urgent medical care and was placed on life support.
Tragically, however, a week later, Hillary passed away.
Now, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputies have provided an update, revealing that Benjamin has now been charged with his wife's death.
In a statement released by the Sheriff's department last week, they explained: "The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the District One Medical Examiner's office is conducting a Death investigation regarding the Death of Hillary Brown.
"In accordance with our policies and procedures, SRSO investigators frequently conduct death investigations when the death was unexpected or the death occurs under unusual circumstances.
"The cause and manner of death is pending the receipt of the autopsy protocol from the District One medical examiners office.
"The autopsy protocol typically takes several months as it usually is dependent on extensive laboratory and toxicology tests as well as the information gathered by our Major Crimes detectives concerning the circumstances of the death."
The 41-year-old surgeon was later taken into custody on Monday (17 June) after he turned himself in following an investigation into the circumstances of her death, where he was immediately charged with one count of second-degree felony homicide for alleged manslaughter.
Authorities determined that Hillary had died following culpable negligence.
According to the Florida Department of Health medical board, Hillary - who had no medical experience under her belt experience herself - mixed her own IV bags and ingested a 'handful' of 'multi-coloured pills' prior to the procedure, which were found to have included valium.
Whilst receiving liposuction, the victim's arms were said to have begun twitching, after which she stated that her 'vision started to blur'.
"Restlessness, muscle twitches, and blurred vision are all early signs of lidocaine toxicity. Dr. Brown continued injecting lidocaine/Xylocaine in (Hillary Brown’s) face," the report stated.
In the minutes that followed, the victim began to seizure, yet according to a medical assistant who was on the scene at the time, Dr Benjamin Brown replied 'No,' after being asked whether they should alert the authorities.
The report alleges: "Over the next 10-20 minutes, a medical assistant asked Dr. Brown if they should call 911 and Dr. Brown said ‘no,’ or ‘wait.’
"The medical assistant was scared and a new employee, so she did as Dr. Brown instructed."
Despite eventually calling 911, Hillary never regained consciousness, and in the weeks that followed, her cause of death was later determined to be 'complications following lidocaine toxicity'.
The medical board subsequently resolved that Dr Benjamin Brown’s treatment of his wife was 'careless and haphazard'.
The surgeon is currently being held in jail pending first appearance, where a judge and the State Attorney's Office will determine a bond.
Hillary's father Marty Ellington later spoke to press of his family's devastation, which he says has been caused by 'one careless individual'.
"His ego and arrogance overshadowed the need for help, prolonging oxygen deprivation to her brain and ultimately causing her death," he told told the Pensacola News Journal.
"Ben Brown took the mother from my grandchildren, my only daughter and our brightest star. Hillary gave the ultimate sacrifice so Ben Brown cannot hurt anyone else.
"Maybe in prison, he will get the attention he deserves."
Topics: Crime, True Crime, Health, US News, News
Rhianna Benson