Doctor Pleads Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Case — A Warning on the Dangers of At-Home and Unsupervised Ketamine Use

The tragic death of actor Matthew Perry has taken another legal turn. On July 23, 2025, Dr. Salvador Plasencia — one of the primary targets in the federal investigation into Perry’s ketamine overdose — pleaded guilty in federal court to four counts of ketamine distribution. Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, was found dead in his Los Angeles hot tub on October 28, 2023. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of death.

Plasencia admitted to supplying Perry with large quantities of ketamine, along with lozenges and syringes, even though he knew the actor was struggling with addiction. In one court-filed text message, he referred to Perry as a “moron” who could be exploited for money. Despite witnessing adverse reactions during injections, Plasencia continued to leave the drug for Perry’s assistant to administer.

Prosecutors allege that Plasencia began supplying Perry with ketamine about a month before his death — totaling 20 vials (100 mg) — and enlisted another doctor to help obtain the drug. He is expected to surrender his medical license and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 40 years, though actual sentencing will likely be less.

The Broader Problem: At-Home Ketamine and Lack of Oversight

While Perry’s case involved both in-person and at-home ketamine use, it highlights a growing and dangerous trend: ketamine treatments happening outside of properly monitored medical environments.

At KBD Attorneys, we’ve been sounding the alarm on mail-order and at-home ketamine therapy. Once limited to clinical anesthetic use or closely supervised psychiatric treatments (such as FDA-approved esketamine in certified clinics), ketamine is now being distributed by telehealth companies and compounding pharmacies directly to consumers’ homes — often after only brief online consultations.

These companies market ketamine as a fast-acting solution for depression, PTSD, anxiety, and burnout, but the safety protocols for such powerful drugs are minimal to non-existent. Unlike hospital-administered treatments, home use leaves patients without:

• Continuous monitoring for adverse reactions like elevated blood pressure, hallucinations, or respiratory depression
• Emergency medical intervention in case of overdose
• Accurate, FDA-approved dosing standards
• Safeguards against misuse or abuse

Legal and Safety Risks

Perry’s case underscores the risks when profit trumps patient safety. Even medical professionals — bound by an ethical duty to protect vulnerable patients — can cross the line, resulting in catastrophic harm.

Ketamine misuse, especially outside a clinical setting, can cause:

• Overdose and death
• Cardiovascular complications
• Severe psychiatric episodes
• Dependency and addiction

When prescribers, suppliers, or telehealth companies fail to ensure safe practices, they may be legally liable for injuries or deaths that result. Families can pursue claims for wrongful death, medical malpractice, or negligence.

KBD Attorneys’ Ongoing Investigation

Our firm is actively investigating cases involving:

• Mail-order ketamine distributed without proper screening or follow-up
• Unsupervised at-home ketamine therapy linked to hospitalizations or deaths
• Medical providers who overprescribe or recklessly administer ketamine
• Compounding pharmacies producing unsafe or unregulated ketamine products

We work with medical experts to expose unsafe practices, push for stronger regulations, and hold negligent parties accountable.

Why This Matters

Matthew Perry’s death is not an isolated tragedy — it’s a high-profile example of a much wider problem. Vulnerable people seek help during their darkest moments. They deserve safe, evidence-based care — not dangerous shortcuts or predatory medical practices.

Mental health care should never carry hidden, life-threatening risks. Without strict oversight, the rise of at-home ketamine could lead to more preventable deaths.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by at-home ketamine therapy, contact KBD Attorneys today. Our legal team will investigate your case, identify who is responsible, and fight for the justice your family deserves.

Source:

Yahoo News