The first of the doctors who illegally supplied actor Matthew Perry with ketamine was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Wednesday by a federal court in California. The star of the TV series “Friends” overdosed on this sedative in 2023, TASR writes, according to reports from Reuters, AFP and AP and The Guardian.
- A doctor was sentenced for illegally distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry.
- Matthew Perry died of acute effects of ketamine and drowning.
- Salvador Plasencia admitted abusing the actor’s addiction to enrich himself.
- Plasencia was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
- The actor used ketamine to treat depression, sought illegal doses.
Salvador Plasencia (44) operated an emergency clinic near Los Angeles and in July, he pleaded guilty to illegally distributing the prescription anesthetic to Perry. The doctor said he abused the actor’s addiction and, according to court documents, once wrote to one of his colleagues that Perry is a “fool” who can be used to enrich himself.
Actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the series Friends, died on October 28, 2023 at the age of 54 from the acute effects of ketamine and subsequent drowning. The actor used ketamine legally to treat depression, but when his doctor did not prescribe the required amount, Perry often contacted Plasencia.
Plasencia did not give Perry his last dose, but according to the court “helped the actor on his way to such an end by continuing to feed his addiction”. Plasencia is the first of the five accused in Perry’s death to hear his sentence.
