A highly respected plastic surgeon from Pensacola found himself under arrest following the untimely death of his wife. She suffered a cardiac arrest and died days after an after-hours surgery performed by him in his clinic last year. The surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Brown, was charged with manslaughter due to culpable negligence. This is considered a second-degree felony.
(Photo : Unsplash/Olga Kononenko)
Surgeon Posts Bond Amidst Manslaughter Accusations
Dr. Brown was released from the Santa Rosa County Jail after posting a $50,000 bond. The defense lawyer issued a statement the following Tuesday, stressing that Dr. Brown intended to plead not guilty. The courts scheduled his arraignment for the next month, and he plans to contest the accusations vigorously.
A Tragic Turn During a Private Procedure
Hillary Brown visited her husband's clinic for a procedure that tragically ended her life. The scheduled surgery took place in November at the Pensacola area clinic. What proceeded was a series of events that led to Hillary's cardiac arrest. After being taken to a local hospital, she passed away a week later. These details emerged from the investigation conducted by the Santa Board of County Sheriff's Office.
Concerning Details Unearthed by the Health Department
An inquiry by the Florida Department of Health raised serious concerns. It preceded the unfortunate event involving Hillary Brown and other associated cases. The report noted that Hillary prepared her local anesthesia and intravenous bags. She even consumed several pills, including a sedative, painkiller, and antibiotic, leading up to the surgery. Furthermore, it highlighted that proper documentation was not in place.
The customary medical standard stipulates that patients must never prepare medications for their surgery. During the operation, Hillary experienced muscle twitches and blurry vision. When expressing her symptoms, Dr. Brown administered more lidocaine to her face. Hillary then became unresponsive and began to have a seizure.
Delay in Emergency Response Raises Questions
A medical assistant at the time asked if they should contact emergency services. Dr. Brown initially responded negatively, suggesting they wait. Once Hillary's breathing weakened and her vitals dropped, the decision was made to call 911. Unlike the medical assistant's claim, Dr. Brown claims he made the call. Hospital emergency room doctors later treated Hillary for lidocaine toxicity, indicating an overdose of anesthetic as a complication of the procedure.
The Department of Health also issued an order restricting Dr. Brown's medical license shortly after the incident. The order requires him to perform procedures only under the supervision of another physician in a hospital setting. The order highlighted that Dr. Brown's care of his wife was careless and lacked caution.
Brown's Clinical Practice Under Inspection
The emergency order detailed prior incidents where Hillary Brown, who was not licensed, had given injections and performed laser treatments on patients. This revelation comes with the Department of Health's inspection of the late Mrs. Brown's treatment. Dr. Brown's judgment and competence were called into question. The health order indicated a significant disregard for safety and patient care standards.
As the case unfolds, the community awaits further developments. Dr. Brown's forthcoming arraignment may shed light on the events that led to this distressing outcome. Details regarding the proceedings are pivotal for the medical community and the standards of private clinic operations.
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