Medical Professional Acknowledges Additional Wrongdoing - Medical Professional Admits to Committing Specified Infractions
In a shocking turn of events, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California-based doctor, has pleaded guilty to illegally providing and administering ketamine to the late Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom "Friends."
The guilty plea, made in a federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, comes after a series of revelations about Plasencia's involvement in Perry's tragic death. According to court documents, Plasencia admitted to administering ketamine to Perry at his home and in a parking lot in Santa Monica, without a medical necessity.
The illegal supply started about a month before Perry's death and included 20 vials of ketamine (totaling 100 mg), ketamine lozenges, and syringes. Perry paid $4,500 for these substances, with Plasencia expressing interest in becoming Perry's "go-to" supplier to continue profiting from him.
Investigations also revealed text messages between Plasencia and his co-defendant Dr. Mark Chavez, where Plasencia referred to Perry as an "idiot" who could be exploited financially.
Dr. Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine in federal court, acknowledging his wrongdoing in supplying Perry with the drug. He faces up to 40 years in prison, but a lighter sentence is likely due to his cooperation.
The 43-year-old doctor remains free on bail until his sentencing, scheduled for December 3, 2025. Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen," is the last remaining defendant in the Perry case, accused of selling Perry the fatal dose. Sangha has pleaded not guilty, and her trial is set to begin in August.
Matthew Perry's cause of death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine. Despite this, Dr. Plasencia left additional ketamine with Perry's assistant for self-administration. During one of the injections, Perry experienced severe physical reactions, including freezing up and a dramatic increase in blood pressure.
The amount of ketamine prescribed to Perry by his treating physician was no longer sufficient for him, leading him to seek illegal sources for the drug. Perry passed away on October 28, 2023, due to an overdose of ketamine.
This case highlights the misuse of ketamine, which is sometimes used off-label for depression treatment. Dr. Plasencia's actions were illegal and exploitative, contributing to Perry's tragic death. Three other charges against Plasencia were dismissed in return for his plea deal.
The Perry case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of illegal drug use and the exploitation that can occur when vulnerable individuals seek help for their health issues.
Science and health-and-wellness professionals are encouraged to reevaluate their approaches to mental-health therapies and treatments, particularly in the use of ketamine. This is in light of the recent case involving Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who exploited Matthew Perry's vulnerability, illegaly providing and administering ketamine to the Friends star, contributing to his tragic death in Los Angeles. This unfortunate incident underscores the need for stricter regulations and ethical practices in the field of health-and-wellness, mental health, and therapies and treatments.
