Dr. Salvador Plasencia, implicated in a broader drug distribution network, faces severe penalties as he prepares to enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks.
California Doctor Set to Plead Guilty in Connection with Matthew Perry's Overdose
California Doctor Set to Plead Guilty in Connection with Matthew Perry's Overdose
A California physician has agreed to plead guilty to supplying ketamine to late actor Matthew Perry, raising questions about drug safety and mental health treatment.
A California doctor, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, is poised to plead guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine, a move prompted by charges related to supplying the late actor Matthew Perry with the drug in the lead-up to his overdose. According to federal prosecutors, Dr. Plasencia's plea carries a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. His expected plea comes in light of Perry's tragic death in October 2023 when he was found unresponsive in his hot tub.
Known for his beloved portrayal of Chandler Bing on the hit series Friends, Perry's death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, particularly given his candid struggles with addiction and depression. As the investigation unfolds, it has been revealed that Dr. Plasencia, along with others, was part of an underground network supplying Perry with excess doses of ketamine beyond what was legally prescribed for his treatment.
Federal prosecutors disclosed that text messages between Dr. Plasencia and another physician involved in the case included conversations where he referred to Perry disparagingly, showing a concerning attitude toward the actor's condition. Documents from the plea agreement indicate Dr. Plasencia not only injected Perry with ketamine at his residence and in the parking lot of the Long Beach Aquarium but also instructed Perry's assistant—which is implicated as another defendant—on how to administer the drug.
Between September 30 and October 12, 2023, Dr. Plasencia reportedly sold twenty 5ml vials of ketamine along with syringes to Perry and his assistant. As the case progresses, it casts a spotlight on the intersection of medical ethics, drug use, and the pressures faced by public figures in mental health treatments. Legal representatives for Dr. Plasencia have not yet commented publicly on the matter.
