A โCalifornia doctor who provided the ketamine that contributed to Matthew Perry‘s death has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Dr. Michael Markarian, 54, received the sentence on december 4, 2023, after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The case highlights the risks associated with off-label โprescriptions and the potential for harm whenโ medical professionals deviate from standardโ care.
The sentencing concludes a months-long examination into the circumstances surrounding Perry’s accidental โdrowning in october 2023. authorities resolute โthe actor died from the acute effects of ketamine,a drug Markarian hadโ been prescribing to Perry for depressionโค and anxiety. While ketamine canโ be a legitimate treatment forโ certain conditions, investigators โฃfound โMarkarian failed to follow accepted medical โขprotocols in prescribing and monitoring Perry’s use of the drug. The case impacts patients receiving ketamine treatment, medical professionalsโข prescribing it, and raises questions about accountabilityโ in healthcare.
Markarian,โฃ who operated a private practice in Beverly Hills, began treating Perry in early 2022. According to court documents, โhe continued prescribing ketamine even after Perry indicated he was using โฃit in ways not intended by the treatment plan. Another defendant in the case, โขJasveen Sangha, known as the “ketamine queen,” โalso pleaded guiltyโฃ a few months prior โfor her role in obtaining and distributing the drug.
