Matthew Perry's doctor 'continued to offer ketamine' to actor despite health scare two weeks before death
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Matthew Perry seemed to “freeze up” after the doctor -- who was charged on Thursday, August 15, because of his involvement in the ‘Friends’ actor’s death -- administered a “large dose” of ketamine just two weeks before his fatal overdose.
Perry, who received acclaim and success as Chandler Bing in 'Friends', died from a ketamine overdose on October 28, 2023.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada shared in a press briefing on Thursday, August 15, that five people have been indicted in Perry’s death - Jasveen Sangha, 41, also known as the 'Ketamine Queen', Dr Salvador Plasencia, 42; Dr Mark Chavez, 54; Eric Fleming, 54, a broker; and Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, his live-in assistant.
Matthew Perry appeared to ‘freeze up’
According to latest reports, Martin Estrada said Matthew Perry appeared to “freeze up” on one occasion that took place roughly two weeks before his death.
Dr Salvador Plasencia injected Perry with illegal ketamine and watched the actor “freeze up and his blood pressure spike".
Estrada continued, "Despite that, he left additional vials of ketamine for defendant Iwamasa to administer to Mr Perry", reported Variety.
As per another report, the doctor appeared to have pulled back from the administration. He allegedly told Perry’s live-in assistant Iwamasa, “Let’s not do that again," per New York Post.
Nevertheless, they went ahead with multiple doses as the attorney said Iwamasa injected multiple shots of ketamine to the '17 Again' actor over the last four days of his life, including the fatal dose that took his life.
Estrada said in October 2023, Dr Placensia shared with another patient that the actor “was spiraling out of control with his addiction". “Nonetheless, [he] continued to offer ketamine to Mr Perry," added the attorney.
“These defendants cared more about profiting off Mr Perry than caring for his well-being,” Estrada continued during the briefing.
What are the charges against the people involved in Matthew Perry’s death?
Dr Salvador Plasencia and Kenny Iwamasa are charged along with another doctor, Mark Chavez, broker Erik Fleming, and ‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha. All of the charges are accused of making thousands of dollars from the actor by selling vials of ketamine that cost as little as $12, authorities said.
Dr Plascencia, a doctor with a health facility in Calabasas, once emailed Iwamasa, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” for ketamine as the actor spiraled out of control.
During the time of his death, Perry was seeking treatment of ketamine therapy for depression. However, when his regular doctor refused to increase his ketamine dosage, Perry reached out to Dr Plascencia, said Drug Enforcement Administration administrator Anne Milgram.
Dr Plascencia, in turn, asked Chavez, 54, for help to procure the drug for the ‘Fools Rus In’ actor.
According to the indictment, from September until Perry’s October 28 death, Dr Plascencia and Chavez allegedly supplied him with about 20 vials of ketamine and took around $55,000 in cash.
Jasveen Sangha and Dr Plasencia have been charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation.
Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa; Mark Chavez; and Erik Fleming have been charged separately including counts of distributing ketamine.
