Doctor Sentenced for Selling Ketamine to Actor Matthew Perry Before His Death
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A Los Angeles doctor received a 2.5-year prison sentence on Wednesday for illegally selling the anesthetic ketamine to actor Matthew Perry. The "Friends" star died from a ketamine overdose in October 2023.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, had pleaded guilty to the charges. Federal Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett issued the sentence, which also includes two years of supervised release after prison.
The judge clarified that Plasencia did not provide the specific ketamine that caused Perry's death. However, she stated the doctor contributed to the actor's path toward that tragic outcome.
Ketamine is a legal prescription drug for anesthesia and some mental health treatments. Its non-medical, or recreational, use is illegal and carries serious health risks.