Following Matthew Perry's demise, a medical professional admits guilt.
In a significant development, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the California doctors accused of supplying actor Matthew Perry with the anesthetic ketamine, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2025, to four federal counts of illegally distributing ketamine. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped three additional charges against him, and his sentencing hearing has not yet concluded.
The guilty plea comes following Perry's death on October 28, 2023, in his Los Angeles home. The 54-year-old actor, best known for his role in "Friends," was undergoing ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression. However, his regular physician refused to increase his dosage, leading him to obtain ketamine through illegal channels, a move associated with his history of substance abuse.
Plasencia admitted to supplying Perry with ketamine and expressed remorse, with his attorney stating he intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license and accept responsibility for failing to protect a vulnerable patient. The doctor received several thousand dollars for these services.
Another individual implicated in the case, Jasveen Sangha, faces several charges, including conspiracy, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and ketamine. Unlike Plasencia, she has pleaded not guilty and is slated to go to trial in August. Sangha, sometimes referred to as the “Ketamine Queen,” is the only one of five charged individuals who has not entered a plea agreement.
The case has highlighted regulatory gaps in ketamine’s off-label psychiatric use, with critics pointing to the risks of addiction, misuse, and lack of oversight. Perry’s death is cited as a cautionary example of the dangers of illicit ketamine supply, especially for those with addiction histories.
The doctor's lawyer stated that he is "deeply remorseful" about his treatment decisions. Prior to his death, Perry had publicly spoken about his struggles with substance abuse, and the case of the charged doctor could serve as a warning to other medical professionals.
The ongoing legal proceedings continue to shed light on the complexities of ketamine therapy and its potential risks, particularly for patients with substance use disorders. The sentencing for Plasencia is awaited, and Sangha's trial is pending, with the broader implications for medical ethics and drug regulation under scrutiny in Perry’s tragic case.
- The guilty plea by Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who supplied actor Matthew Perry with ketamine, has brought attention to the mental-health field and the use of therapies-and-treatments like ketamine.
- The case of Dr. Plasencia and the illegal distribution of ketamine is a general-news topic that has also touched upon crime-and-justice, with Jasveen Sangha facing charges for drug-related offenses.
- This case serves as a reminder to the health-and-wellness community, particularly those in the science field, about the importance of ethical practices and oversight in administering treatments like ketamine, especially for patients with histories of substance abuse.
