Dr. Salvador Plasencia has pleaded guilty to charges related to the accidental overdose of actor Matthew Perry, stemming from a troubling series of cases against those who provided him with excessive amounts of ketamine. Plasencia entered his guilty plea on four counts of distributing the drug, with a formal hearing held in federal court where a judge allowed him to remain free on bail until his sentencing on December 3.
Under the terms of an agreement with prosecutors, Plasencia faces the prospect of up to 40 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of at least $2 million. In a statement released by his attorneys, Plasencia expressed profound remorse for his actions, acknowledging his failure to safeguard Perry, a patient who had been particularly vulnerable due to his struggles with addiction. To this end, he will voluntarily surrender his medical license.
Matthew Perry was found dead in his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023, with the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office attributing his death to an accidental overdose from ketamine. The actor had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to address issues of depression and anxiety, yet investigations revealed he sought the drug illegally outside of his prescribed treatment.
In connection with Perry’s death, Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, was among several individuals facing charges. Iwamasa pleaded guilty in 2024, with court documents revealing that Perry grappled with severe addiction. Iwamasa disclosed that he was introduced to Plasencia shortly before Perry’s death, during which Plasencia allegedly sold Perry both liquid ketamine and lozenges and taught Iwamasa how to administer the drug, despite his lack of medical training.
The plea agreement indicated that Perry had paid Plasencia as much as $55,000 for ketamine in the month leading up to his passing. Court documents also noted that Plasencia had remarked to a patient about Perry being “too far gone and spiraling in his addiction,” yet he continued to provide the actor with drugs. Text exchanges between Plasencia and Mark Chavez, a former physician who has also pleaded guilty, revealed a troubling attitude as they joked about profiting from Perry’s dependence.
This tragic case highlights the serious issue of addiction and the responsibility of medical professionals to protect their patients. The upcoming sentencing could serve as a critical juncture in holding accountable those who exploit vulnerable individuals, underscoring the need for stringent measures in the healthcare system to prevent similar tragedies in the future.