A major update has come in the case surrounding sudden death of ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry in 2023., as on Wednesday, the doctor who gave him ketamine, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles court.
Plasencia admitted that he illegally gave the powerful drug to Perry without a proper medical reason. Ketamine is normally used as a strong painkiller or anaesthetic, but in this case, it was supplied for non-medical use.
Matthew Perry died of the effects of ketamine in October 2023.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of illegal distribution. Each charge could bring him up to 10 years in federal prison.
That means he could theoretically face 40 years, but experts believe he will likely get a shorter sentence. His final punishment will be decided in court on December 3.
As part of the punishment, the doctor has also been told to give up his medical license within the next month or so. He had earlier agreed to a plea deal in June, where he confessed to providing ketamine without a real medical reason.
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In return, some other serious charges, like falsifying records, were dropped.
This case is not over yet. Another person connected to it, Jasveen Sangha, is still facing trial. She has been called the “Ketamine Queen” and is accused of running an illegal drug stash house in North Hollywood.
Her court case is expected to start next month.
Perry, who played Chandler Bing on ‘Friends’, was much loved around the world. His sudden death shocked fans and sparked questions about how he got access to dangerous drugs.