Physician who gave Matthew Perry ketamine pleads guilty

LOS ANGELES (CN) — One of the doctors who supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine several times before the “Friends” star died from an overdose in 2023 pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four counts of distribution.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia — or “Dr. P.,” as Matthew Perry called him — remains free on bail ahead of his December 3 sentencing. He faces up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $2 million.

His attorney, Karen Goldstein, said in an email that Plasencia is “profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry.” She added: “While Dr. Plasencia was not treating Mr. Perry at the time of his death, he hopes his case serves as a warning to other medical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in order to prevent future tragedies like this.”

Goldstein also stated that Plasencia plans to surrender his medical license within 45 days.

Plasencia, 43, is one of five people charged with illegally supplying Perry with ketamine, a drug used legally for depression, pain and anesthesia. Still, it’s also known as a party drug since the 1980s. Two other defendants, including Perry’s personal assistant and a San Diego doctor, have also pleaded guilty.

Perry, 54, who battled addiction for years, was found dead in his hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on Oct. 23. Prosecutors say his final ketamine dose was injected by his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and supplied by Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “ketamine queen,” who has pleaded not guilty. Her trial begins Aug. 19.

According to Plasencia’s plea agreement, filed last month, he met Perry at his Malibu clinic, where he was told Perry would pay “cash and lots of thousands” for ketamine. He bought four vials of liquid ketamine and an open box of ketamine lozenges from Dr. Mark Chavez for $795. He brought them to Perry’s home, injecting him and leaving the rest with Iwamasa, who paid Plasencia $4,500 in return. This supply chain — Chavez to Plasencia to Perry and his assistant — continued until Perry’s overdose.

The day before Perry died, Plasencia texted Iwamasa: “I know you mentioned taking a break. I have been stocking up on the meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case its when im out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine …I can always let her know the plan.”

Follow @hillelaron