Dr. Ben Brown, Gulf Breeze plastic surgeon, loses license for a year

Tom McLaughlin, Pensacola News Journal

Fri, February 6, 2026 at 4:20 PM UTC

3 min read

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The Florida Board of Medicine on Feb. 6 sided with Administrative Law Judge Yolonda Green and in a split vote agreed to suspend the medical license of Gulf Breeze plastic surgeon Ben Brown for a year.

Brown was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine and cover the costs of the Florida Department of Health's investigation and prosecution of the case brought against him.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed the Board of Medicine's ruling shortly after a hearing, which got underway at 8 a.m. Central time, was concluded.

The Department of Health had initiated an investigation following the death of Brown's wife, Hillary Ellington Brown, who went into cardiac arrest in November of 2023 as Brown was performing several medical procedures upon her.

Hilary Brown never regained consciousness and died a week after her collapse.

The Florida Department of Health placed emergency restrictions on Ben Brown in May of 2024.

Following a three day hearing in September over which Green presided, the judge determined on Nov. 20, 2025, that based on evidence presented Brown should have his license to practice medicine suspended for a year, followed by probation with terms imposed by the Board of Medicine.

Why was Ben Brown's license suspended?

Green wrote in her order that, based on facts presented at the hearing, the suspension was justified based on "the seriousness of the offense, and respondent’s poor judgment" as well as "actions taken in other similar disciplinary proceedings."

The Health Department had presented evidence that Brown had violated several state statutes and exhibited behavior that fell below the minimum standard of medical care.

It also recommended discipline for his failure to keep complete and accurate medical records, the performing of unauthorized procedures, and allowing an unlicensed person to practice medicine.

Ben Brown was reportedly performing a procedure on Hillary in his office when she suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

Green ruled that the Department of Health had proven "by clear and convincing evidence" that Brown did fail to meet the standard of care in his treatment of his wife by failing to immediately call 911 after she began having seizures and her vital signs began to decline.

The judge also determined he had failed to maintain proper medical records on two occasions. The first by failing to properly record the visits of a patient labeled as J.H. and by failing to document the type and dosage, or concentration, of aesthetics used during the procedure performed on Hillary Brown.

Health Department attorneys had attempted to make a case that Hillary Brown had operated medical laser equipment or injected patients with medications without being properly licensed to do so.

The judge, however, determined that the agency had failed to prove that Brown had aided, assisted or advised his wife to practice medicine in a manner contrary to state statutes or Department of Health or Board of Medicine instructions.

Brown still faces a criminal charge of manslaughter by culpable negligence as a result of his wife's death. He was arrested June 17, 2024, on the criminal charges.

The charges state Brown did not have life-saving equipment available in his office when Hillary's heart stopped and that he failed to follow medical protocol when administering sedatives, like lidocaine, which ultimately led to her death.

Charges also repeat those brought by the Department of Health in stating that Brown waited to call 911 after Hillary became unresponsive in his surgical chair and held off for an estimated 10 to 20 minutes before initiating CPR.

The Medical Examiner's Office for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida found Hillary Brown died due to "complications following lidocaine toxicity."

A tentative trial date of May 4 has been set in that case and a procedural hearing is slated for Feb. 10. First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner Dr. Deanna Oleske is scheduled to appear Feb. 17 for a deposition in the criminal action.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Dr. Ben Brown, Gulf Breeze plastic surgeon, loses license for a year

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