GULF BREEZE, FL – A Florida plastic surgeon is facing homicide charges following the death of his wife, who experienced a fatal cardiac arrest during a series of cosmetic procedures he was performing on her last year.

Dr. Benjamin Jacob Brown, 40, was arrested Monday on a count of second-degree felony manslaughter by culpable negligence in connection with the demise of 33-year-old Hillary Ellington Brown. The arrest was announced by law enforcement officials who detailed a comprehensive probe leading up to the arrest warrant’s issue on Friday.

On November 21, 2023, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies received a distress call from Restore Plastic Surgery, where they found Hillary Brown in critical condition. She was rushed to a hospital and spent a week on life support, but could not be revived.

The subsequent inquiry involved cooperation between the sheriff’s department, the District One Medical Examiner’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office. It culminated in Brown’s surrender to authorities on Monday morning, following an arrest warrant issued the previous Friday.

In May 2024, Dr. Brown faced further professional repercussions when the Florida Department of Health placed an emergency restriction on his medical license, shedding light on the tragic events leading up to his wife’s death. Official reports stated she had self-administered IV bags and consumed multiple pills, including Valium, on the day of the procedures, which included an abdominal revision, bilateral arm liposuction, lip injections, and ear adjustments.

The medical review revealed that Hillary Brown started exhibiting early symptoms of lidocaine toxicity during the procedures that her husband was performing. Despite her restlessness, twitching, and blurred vision, Dr. Brown continued with the treatment, foregoing the expected medical protocols for such emergencies.

A medical assistant’s pleas to call emergency services were repeatedly denied by Dr. Brown over a span of up to 20 minutes. The directive to call 911 came too late; Hillary Brown never awoke following her seizure.

According to the medical board, Dr. Brown’s management of the procedure and subsequent emergency was “careless and haphazard,” and represented a profound neglect for patient safety standards. His failure to respond quickly and appropriately during his wife’s medical crisis prompted the restriction on his medical practice.

Hillary Brown’s father, Marty Ellington, expressed his family’s ongoing grief but voiced sentiments of relief upon learning of the arrest. Describing the impact of Dr. Brown’s actions on their lives, Ellington lamented the loss of his daughter and highlighted the need for justice in the wake of the tragedy that has shaken their family.

The case against Dr. Benjamin Jacob Brown spotlights the critical importance of adhering to medical standards and stands as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when those standards are cast aside.