Did a doctor's negligence lead to Matthew Perry's tragic overdose death? Plea deal reveals shocking details

Matthew Perry death: A doctor has pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegally supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the beloved Friends star was found dead in his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023, as per a report.

Doctor Admits to Supplying Ketamine to Matthew Perry

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, entered the guilty plea on Wednesday in a federal court in Los Angeles, admitting to four felony counts of distributing the powerful anesthetic without a legitimate medical purpose to Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, as per ABC7.com report. He is the fourth person to plead guilty in the federal case surrounding Perry’s fatal overdose, according to the report.

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Troubling Effects Ignored

Although prosecutors say Plasencia did not provide the specific dose that caused Perry’s death, he admitted to repeatedly supplying the actor with ketamine in the weeks leading up to it, even after witnessing troubling side effects from the drug, as per ABC7.com report. Plasencia reportedly admitted, that Perry froze up and his blood pressure spiked when the doctor gave him one injection, but the doctor still left more ketamine for Perry's assistant to inject, as reported by ABC7.com.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia's Plea Deal

The 43-year-old doctor had originally pleaded not guilty, but changed course last month in a deal with prosecutors, as per the report. In exchange for his guilty plea, several other charges, including three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records will be dropped, as reported by ABC7.com.

He could face a maximum of 40 years in federal prison due to his charges, though his sentence is likely to be significantly less, according to the report. The doctor has been free on bond soon after his arrest in August, and will be allowed to remain free until his December 3 sentencing, as reported by ABC7.com.

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The Timeline Leading to Matthew Perry’s Death

Prosecutors and co-defendants have revealed that Plasencia began illegally supplying Perry with ketamine in September 2023, about a month before the actor's death, according to the report by ABC7.com. According to plea documents, another patient introduced Perry to Plasencia, who went on to illegally provide the actor with 20 vials of ketamine totaling 100 mg of the drug, along with ketamine lozenges and syringes, according to the report.

Text Messages Reveal Exploitation

Plasencia also worked with another physician, Dr. Mark Chavez, to secure more ketamine for Perry, as per the ABC7.com report. Text messages between the two doctors, cited by prosecutors, show a disturbing lack of concern for the actor’s well-being. Plasencia allegedly texted Chavez, saying, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," as quoted by the ABC7.com report. In another message, he pitched the idea of becoming Perry’s “go-to” supplier for ketamine after selling the drugs to Perry for $4,500, as reported by ABC7.com.

Ketamine: Main Culprit For Matthew Perry’s Death

The Friends star was found dead by his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa and the medical examiner ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of death, as reported by ABC7.com.

Ketamine, traditionally used as a surgical anesthetic, has increasingly been used off-label to treat depression, according to the report. Perry had been receiving the drug legally under the supervision of another doctor, but sought out more than his provider was willing to give, as per ABC7.com report.

Wider Investigation Continues

Three others, including Perry’s assistant, another friend, and a second doctor, have also pleaded guilty in connection with the case, according to ABC7.com report. They have not yet been sentenced, but agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the larger investigation targeting Plasencia and an alleged drug dealer named Jasveen Sangha, as per the report.

Sangha, who has been dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” by investigators, is accused of selling Perry the dose that ultimately killed him, according to ABC7.com. She has pleaded not guilty and is set to stand trial next month, as per the report.

FAQs

Who was the doctor that pleaded guilty in Matthew Perry's case?
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a 43-year-old doctor, admitted to illegally supplying ketamine to the late actor, as per ABC7.com report.

What was Matthew Perry being treated for with ketamine?
Ketamine was used off-label as a treatment for depression, a growing but controversial use of the drug.