A Florida plastic surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Brown, has been charged with manslaughter for the death of his wife, Hillary Ellington Brown. She went into cardiac arrest while he was performing several cosmetic procedures on her at his clinic in Gulf Breeze, Florida, in November 2023.
On November 21, 2023, Dr. Brown was performing several procedures on his wife, Hillary, including a modified tummy tuck, arm liposuction, and lip injections. She was not a licensed medical professional, yet she prepared her own IV bags for the anesthesia.
According to a complaint by the Florida Department of Health, Hillary ingested several pills, and during the procedure, her feet started twitching and she reported blurry vision and “seeing orange”—all signs of lidocaine toxicity.
Despite these clear warning signs, Dr. Brown continued operating and injected more anesthetic. When his wife became unresponsive and had a seizure, a medical assistant asked if they should call emergency services. Dr. Brown reportedly refused, telling them “no” or “wait” for 10 to 20 minutes.
The medical examiner determined her cause of death was complications from lidocaine toxicity. In June 2024, Dr. Brown was charged with second-degree felony homicide, or manslaughter by culpable negligence. He turned himself in and was released on a $50,000 bond.
The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency order in May 2024, restricting his medical license to performing procedures only at a licensed hospital under the supervision of another physician.
