Medical professional acknowledged guilt for illegally providing ketamine to Matthew Perry in the days leading up to his demise
### Dr. Salvador Plasencia Admits Guilt in Matthew Perry's Ketamine Supply
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a 43-year-old physician, has admitted to supplying a large amount of the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine to Matthew Perry, the renowned actor, in the weeks leading up to his overdose death in October 2023.
On July 23, 2025, Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine to Perry, as part of an agreement with prosecutors. This plea led to the dropping of three additional counts of ketamine distribution and two counts of falsifying records[1][2][3].
Plasencia admitted that he provided significant quantities of ketamine to Perry, despite the actor experiencing adverse effects such as freezing up and a spike in blood pressure during an injection[1][2]. However, prosecutors clarified that Plasencia did not supply the specific dose that caused Perry's death[1][2].
The sentencing for Plasencia is scheduled for December 3, 2025. He could face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for the charges[3][4].
In court, Perry was referred to as "victim MP"[1]. Plasencia is one of four people charged in connection with Perry's death who have pleaded guilty[2]. The remaining defendant, Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen", has not yet reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office. Her trial is scheduled to begin next month, and she has pleaded not guilty[4].
Perry, who struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on "Friends", was using ketamine through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression. However, he sought more ketamine than his doctor would give him, leading him to seek alternative sources[2][3].
Plasencia is said to have enlisted another doctor, Mark Chavez, to supply the drug for him, and reportedly texted Chavez, "I wonder how much this moron will pay."[1][2]
Plasencia's lawyer assured the judge that he is not a flight risk, citing his local ties and primary caretaker responsibilities for his young son[1]. Plasencia has surrendered his license to prescribe controlled substances and intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license as well[1][2].
Dr. Plasencia is still allowed to practice medicine, but he must inform patients of the charges before treating them[1]. He will remain free until his sentencing in December[1].
- Seattle authorities have started investigating the case of Dr. Salvador Plasencia, the physician involved in Matthew Perry's ketamine supply, to determine if local health-and-wellness regulations were violated during the distribution of the dissociative anesthetic.
- Amidst the revelations of Plasencia's guilty plea, the Seattle government is debating the need for stricter mental-health oversight and therapies-and-treatments policies for medical professionals to prevent such incidents in the future.
- In light of this case, Seattle-based scientific research institutions are focusing their efforts on understanding the long-term effects of ketamine and similar drugs on mental and overall health, as part of their ongoing commitment to public safety and well-being.
