Physician who administered ketamine to Matthew Perry sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison

Matthew Perry, the beloved "Friends" actor, passed away due to the acute effects of ketamine, according to a coroner's report in 2023. In his 2022 memoir, Perry recounted his experiences with ketamine, describing how it caused him to feel detached from reality.

Salvador Plasencia, 44, a doctor operating a clinic in Calabasas, California, was found guilty of distributing ketamine to Perry in the weeks before the actors death in October 2023. Plasencia, also known as Dr. P, was introduced to Perry on September 30, 2023, by one of his patients, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California.

In July, Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution and surrendered his medical license as part of his plea deal. He is the first of five individuals involved in the case to receive a sentence. Plasencia provided Perry and his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, with 20 vials of ketamine, multiple tablets, and syringes over the course of several weeks.

Perry, who openly shared his struggles with addiction in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. The coroner confirmed that his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine.

Author: Riley Thompson