Doctor Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Death Case

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California physician, pleaded guilty to four federal counts of illegally distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry in the weeks before Perry's accidental overdose death in October 2023. Plasencia admitted to supplying ketamine despite knowing Perry's addiction history and after witnessing adverse reactions. As part of his plea deal, Plasencia will surrender his medical license and faces up to 40 years in prison, with sentencing set for December 3, 2025, though a shorter sentence is likely. He is one of five individuals charged in the case, with at least three others also pleading guilty. Prosecutors stated that Plasencia did not provide the fatal dose, but his actions contributed to a dangerous pattern that led to Perry's death. The case has prompted renewed calls for stricter oversight of the at-home ketamine industry.