Doctor Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Role in Matthew Perry’s Ketamine Treatment
A Los Angeles court sentenced Salvador Plasencia to 30 months in prison on Wednesday for distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his death in October 2023. The case sheds light on a network of individuals allegedly exploiting the actor’s struggles with addiction, and raises critical questions about the accessibility and misuse of powerful anesthetics.
A Tragic Chain of Events
Plasencia pleaded guilty in July to four counts of unlawfully distributing ketamine. While he did not provide the ketamine that directly caused Perry’s death – the actor was found unconscious in his jacuzzi at the age of 54 – he admitted to selling approximately twenty vials of the anesthetic to Perry during a short period before the tragedy. He faced a potential sentence of up to 40 years and had agreed to relinquish his medical license.
The prosecution argued that Plasencia actively “exploited” Perry’s relapse into addiction in the fall of 2023. Disturbingly, text messages revealed Plasencia’s focus on profit, writing to another doctor, “I wonder how much this moron is going to pay.” Authorities discovered the ketamine was acquired by the doctors for around $12 per vial, but resold to Perry for as much as $2,000.
Perry’s Battle with Addiction
Matthew Perry, best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the hit television series Friends (1994-2004), publicly battled addiction to drugs and alcohol for decades. In his 2022 memoir, he detailed 65 stints in rehab and estimated spending over $9 million on his recovery efforts. He had also undergone multiple surgeries related to his addiction, famously stating, “I should be dead.”
Perry initially received ketamine treatments under medical supervision for depression. However, the anesthetic – often misused for its euphoric effects – ultimately contributed to his addiction. The investigation revealed Plasencia sometimes administered the ketamine injections himself, even after an incident where Perry experienced a dangerous spike in blood pressure resulting in temporary paralysis. Despite this alarming episode, Plasencia reportedly left additional vials with Perry’s assistant.
A Wider Network of Accountability
Plasencia is one of five individuals facing prosecution in connection with Perry’s death. A second doctor, Perry’s personal assistant, an intermediary, and a drug dealer have all agreed to plead guilty. The sentencing of Jasveen Sangha, nicknamed the “queen of ketamine” within Hollywood circles, is scheduled for next Wednesday and is expected to draw significant scrutiny. Sangha is accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine to Perry.
Suzanne Perry and Keith Morrison, the actor’s mother and stepfather, submitted a statement to the court expressing their belief that Plasencia had failed in his duty of care. “Matthew’s recovery depended on you saying no,” they wrote, highlighting the devastating consequences of the doctor’s actions.
Defense attorneys for Plasencia acknowledged his “major errors in medical decisions” but characterized him as someone who would be “haunted forever” by his mistakes. They emphasized that he was not a malicious actor, but rather someone who made critical errors in judgment.
The death of Matthew Perry sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond, prompting an outpouring of grief and remembrance. His story serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle with addiction and the dangers of unregulated access to powerful medications.
