Plastic surgeon who left his own wife seizing on operating table for up to 20 minutes charged in her death
A Florida plastic surgeon, Benjamin Brown, 41, was arrested Monday on charges of second-degree felony homicide: manslaughter by culpable negligence, following the death of his wife, Hillary Ellington Brown, 33, who suffered cardiac arrest during a procedure at his clinic, Restore Plastic Surgery, in Gulf Breeze last November.
Hillary was undergoing multiple cosmetic procedures, including muscle plication and liposuction, when she experienced cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the hospital, placed on life support, and died seven days later.
According to a state report, Hillary prepared her own anesthesia and ingested a mix of medications, including Valium, without documenting what she took. During the procedure, she exhibited signs of toxicity such as blurred vision and restlessness. Despite these symptoms, Brown continued administering anesthesia and injecting drugs into her face.
When Hillary became unresponsive and started seizing, a medical assistant suggested calling 911, but Brown initially refused. As her condition worsened, he eventually instructed staff to call for emergency assistance. Hillary never regained consciousness.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office reported that Brown was taken into custody after turning himself in following a warrant issued for his arrest. He is being held in county jail pending a bond hearing.
A GoFundMe page created by family friend Noel Wakul described the tragic event and the Coughlins' efforts to protect their children during the shooting. The couple shared three children.
Brown, a Georgetown University Department of Plastic Surgery graduate, holds medical licenses in Florida, Washington DC, Virginia, and West Virginia. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Marty Ellington, Hillary's father, expressed his grief to the Pensacola News Journal, criticizing Brown's actions: "His ego and arrogance overshadowed the need for help, prolonging oxygen deprivation to her brain and ultimately causing her death."
Following the incident, the Florida Department of Health issued an emergency order restricting Brown's medical license to perform procedures only under supervision in a licensed hospital. The department is pursuing disciplinary action, and Brown is challenging the allegations.
The department's investigation revealed troubling practices at Brown's clinic, including delegating tasks to unlicensed personnel and maintaining a poorly managed and unsanitary facility. Reports also indicated that Brown performed unwanted procedures on patients and allowed his wife to perform medical tasks without a license. Patients have reported disfigurement and ongoing pain from treatments received at Brown's practice.
The case will be heard by the Division for Administrative Hearings as the department seeks to address the serious allegations against Brown.
