Californian doctor pleads guilty to Matthew Perry’s death

Dr Salvador Plasencia admits to illegally supplying ketamine to the actor in the weeks leading up to his fatal overdose

A Californian doctor, Salvador Plasencia, has agreed to plead guilty to illegally supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry shortly before his death from an accidental overdose on 28 October 2023. The announcement was made by US federal prosecutors, who have formally charged the doctor with four counts of unauthorised distribution of the anaesthetic, which is used clinically to treat depression but is often used recreationally and dangerously.

The guilty plea is expected in the coming weeks. If confirmed, it could result in Plasencia receiving up to 40 years in prison. Perry, known and loved around the world for playing Chandler Bing in the cult series Friends, was found dead in the hot tub at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 54. The actor had publicly spoken about his struggles with addiction and mental health issues, making the ending to his story even more shocking.

According to court documents, Plasencia personally administered ketamine to Perry both at his home and in the car park of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. He also taught the actor’s personal assistant – who is also among the defendants – how to inject the drug, providing them with additional vials to use at home.

The doctor is one of five individuals involved in what investigators describe as an underground network of suppliers and healthcare professionals. Although Perry was also taking ketamine on prescription, investigations indicate that he sought additional doses illegally, fuelling a parallel market.

Between 30 September and 12 October 2023, Plasencia allegedly sold 20 high-concentration 5 ml vials and various syringes to Perry and his assistant. In a conversation cited in the court documents, another doctor involved, Mark Chavez – who has already pleaded guilty – reports that Plasencia called the actor an “idiot” and wondered how much he was willing to pay for the extra doses.

Plasencia’s lawyer has not yet issued a statement. The case draws attention to the abuse of ketamine in the United States, a growing phenomenon involving not only the black market but also healthcare professionals who are complicit in the increasingly widespread misuse of controlled substances.

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