Cosmetic doc charged over death of his ‘surgery-obsessed’ wife during litany of ops while she ‘acted as her own nurse’
A plastic surgeon has been charged with the death of his “surgery-obsessed” wife after she went into cardiac arrest on the operating table.
Disgraced Dr. Benjamin Brown, 41, was arrested and charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence after mum-of-three Hillary Brown, 33, died during a surgery.
Hillary suffered seizures and cardiac arrest as her husband performed plastic surgery on her at his Florida clinic on November 21 last year.
Dr Brown called 911 and began performing CPR after she suffered the medical emergency but she fell into a coma.
The plastic-surgery loving mother was taken off life support a week later after it was determined she was brain dead.
On the morning of her surgery, Hillary had allegedly acted as her own nurse.
She had prepared her own IV bags and had a handful of multi-coloured pills including Valium, authorities said.
Dr Brown was put under investigation over her death but denied any wrongdoing.
But on Monday, Brown turned himself in to police after a warrant was put out for his arrest on Friday.
An order of emergency restriction for the plastic surgeon’s medical license filed by the Florida Department of Health has exposed the circumstances around Hillary’s death.
The document revealed on the day Brown’s wife went into cardiac arrest, she was scheduled to undergo miniature muscle plication/abdominal scar revision, bilateral arm liposuction, lip injections, and ear adjustment procedures.
It says she prepared her own anaesthesia before the surgeries, but did not document what she took.
According to the report, when Hillary was in the operating room, Brown gave her additional anaesthesia without verification on what his wife took. He also didn’t document what anaesthetic medication and dosage he administered during the procedure.
Hillary reportedly became “restless and her feet began twitching” after Brown began liposuction on her arm.
The report also claims that Hillary “stated that her vision started to blur” and told her husband she “saw ‘orange'”.
When Hillary became unresponsive, its alleged that Brown “continued injecting lidocaine/Xylocaine”.
The report says: “Over the next 10-20 minutes, a medical assistant asked 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.”
Instead of Brown calling emergency services, the plastic surgeon allegedly “shouted” at his staff, demanding to know “what medication” she had taken.
“Approximately 10 to 20 minutes,” after Hillary suffered the seizure, Brown asked an assistant to call 911.
Her death was later determined to be “complications following lidocaine toxicity” according to the reports.
The board called Brown “careless and haphazard”.
Since her death, Hillary’s parents have demanded clarity of their daughters horrific death. Speaking to USA Today last year, her father Marty Ellington said: “We want answers,”
“We haven’t been given answers.
“If it’s a mistake, it was a mistake, but it doesn’t bring my daughter back, you know.
“I don’t want his money. I don’t want anything. All I want is an answer because I think that we owe that to my daughter.”
What are the dangers of cosmetic surgery?
COSMETIC surgery, while often performed safely, carries several potential dangers and risks.
Some of the primary concerns include:
Surgical Risks: Like any surgery, there is a risk of infection, which can sometimes be severe. Excessive bleeding during or after the procedure can occur, requiring additional medical intervention. There is a risk of developing blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can be life-threatening if they travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Anaesthesia Complications: General anaesthesia poses its own risks, including allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and, in rare cases, death.
Scarring and Disfigurement: Poor wound healing or surgical errors can lead to noticeable scars or disfigurement, sometimes requiring additional corrective surgeries.
Nerve Damage: Surgery can sometimes damage nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, or changes in sensation. In some cases, this may be permanent.
Unsatisfactory Results: The outcome may not meet the patient’s expectations, leading to psychological distress or the desire for further surgeries to correct or improve the results.
Emotional and Psychological Effects: Some individuals may experience post-surgery depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues, particularly if the results do not meet their expectations.
Health Complications: Plastic surgery could lead to health complications including hematoma, seroma and tissue necrosis.
Allergic Reactions: Allergic reactions to materials used in surgery, such as sutures, adhesives, or implants, can occur.
Long-Term Risks: Some procedures, particularly those involving implants (e.g., breast implants), may have long-term risks, such as implant rupture, leakage, or shifting.
Dependency on Repeated Procedures: Some individuals may become psychologically dependent on cosmetic surgery, leading to repeated procedures and increased risk of complications.