By Thomas Atilla Lewis, CC BY 2.0,
Matthew Perry, renowned for his role in Friends, left an indelible mark on the hearts of his fans, friends, and family upon his passing last year. A new documentary on Peacock delves into his life leading up to his tragic death from an accidental overdose on October 28, 2023.
The autopsy report revealed that the actor had “high levels of ketamine” in his system, with the documentary suggesting that this was due to him receiving 27 injections of the substance in the three days prior to his death, as reported by People. Martin Estrada, the former United States Attorney for the Central District of California, commented in the documentary, “Allegedly, you have Dr. Salvador Plasencia providing ketamine to a live-in assistant who has no medical training whatsoever, and that live-in assistant is administering ketamine to a person whose risk factors are through the roof.”
In mid-October, Estrada revealed that Plasencia exhibited numerous warning signs that should have raised concern; however, he allegedly persisted in unlawfully administering injections to Perry, as reported by People.
“It is alleged that Dr. Plasencia coordinated various meeting locations with Mr. Perry to provide the ketamine,” he stated. “On one occasion, they convened in a parking lot in Long Beach, where he administered ketamine in the rear of a vehicle. Medical professionals are not permitted to perform injections in such settings,” according to the publication.
“A qualified physician like Dr. Plasencia should have been fully aware of the impropriety,” Estrada remarked, adding, “A central theme of our indictment is that all the defendants should have exercised better judgment. They exploited an individual and allowed their avarice to jeopardize Mr. Perry’s well-being,” as reported by People.
Perry exhibited an adverse reaction to the medication at that time, and prosecutors assert that Plasencia observed Perry “freeze up.” Estrada stated that the doctor took no action in response to this situation.
“It is alleged that he continues to administer ketamine to Mr. Perry’s live-in assistant, who then administers it to Mr. Perry,” Estrada further noted.
Ultimately, that assistant, identified as Kenneth Iwamasa, administered the lethal dose of ketamine to Perry. The drug was reportedly supplied by a woman referred to as “The Ketamine Queen,” Jasveen Sangha, according to People.
“When Mr. Perry’s demand for additional ketamine became so excessive that Dr. Plasencia and Dr. [Mark] Chavez could not meet it, they sought the assistance of an intermediary,” claimed retired Los Angeles Police Department detective Greg Kading, as reported by the outlet.
