A California 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 prescriptions and the potential for harm when medical professionals deviate from standard care.
The sentencing concludes a months-long examination into the circumstances surrounding Perry’s accidental drowning in october 2023. authorities resolute the actor died from the acute effects of ketamine,a drug Markarian had been prescribing to Perry for depression and anxiety. While ketamine can be a legitimate treatment for certain conditions, investigators found Markarian failed to follow accepted medical protocols in prescribing and monitoring Perry’s use of the drug. The case impacts patients receiving ketamine treatment, medical professionals prescribing it, and raises questions about accountability in healthcare.
Markarian, who operated a private practice in Beverly Hills, began treating Perry in early 2022. According to court documents, he continued prescribing ketamine even after Perry indicated he was using it in ways not intended by the treatment plan. Another defendant in the case, Jasveen Sangha, known as the “ketamine queen,” also pleaded guilty a few months prior for her role in obtaining and distributing the drug.
