LOS ANGELES – The doctor โฃwho provided Matthew Perry with ketamine prior to the actor’s accidental death hasโ been โsentenced to 30 months โin federal prison. Dr. Bernard Plasencia,โค who owned an urgent care clinic โin Malibu, California, was sentenced after pleading guilty in connection to Perry’s death, which was resolute to be caused by the acute effects of the drug. he isโค the firstโ of five individuals โto be sentencedโ in the case.
Perry was found unresponsive and floating face down in his Los Angeles home’s hot tub in 2023, following a period of increasing reliance on ketamine. Plasencia faced a potential 40-year prison sentance if convicted at trial; โprosecutors had recommendedโ a three-year term,โ arguing he “sought to exploit Perry’s medical vulnerability for profit.”โฃ They highlighted “egregious breaches โof trust,” stating Plasencia sold the ketamine despite knowing Perry’s personal assistant was administering itโค without proper medical oversight and after the actor had experienced an adverse reaction.
Plasencia’s defense team acknowledged the doctor โขoverlooked signs of addiction but maintained he played a “more limited and discrete role” in Perry’sโข death. โHis lawyer, Karen Golstein, stated, “Plasencia is โขsomeoneโฃ who made serious mistakes in his treatment decisions involving the off-label use of ketamine-a drug commonly used for depression that does not have uniform standards. The mistakes heโฃ made over the 13 days during which he treated Mr. Perryโข will stay with him forever.”
The sentencing was met with strong condemnation from Perry’s family. In a victimโฃ impact statement,โ suzanne and Keith Morrison, Perry’s โขmotherโ and stepfather, โdescribed Plasencia as “the most culpable of โall” those charged, alleging he “conspired to break his most critically important vows, repeatedly, sneaked through theโ night to meet his victim in secret.” โPerry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, wrote, “Matthew’s recovery countedโข on โyou saying NO.”
Court documents reveal instances whereโ Plasencia continued to provide ketamine despiteโ concerning health โขindicators.Following one administration that caused Perry’s blood pressure to spike, Plasencia allegedly instructed Perry’sโฃ personal โขassistant – also charged in the case – to order more, stating in a text, “I know โขyou mentioned taking a breakโฆI have been stocking up onโ the meanwhile.I am notโข sure when you guys plan to resume but โin case its when im out of town this weekend I haveโข left supplies with a nurse of mine.”
Further โtext messages revealed a concerning โฃexchange with another โdefendant, in which Plasencia allegedly wrote, “I wonder how much this moron will payโฆLet’s find out.”
Jasveen Sangha,known as โthe “Ketamine Queen” and accused of supplying the fatalโ dose,is scheduled for sentencing in February.
