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By Gabe Whisnant
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A California doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine in the weeks before the actor's fatal overdose. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, admitted to four counts of distributing the powerful anesthetic during a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, becoming the fourth of five individuals charged in connection with Perry's death to enter a guilty plea.
Plasencia had previously pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in August but agreed last month to a plea deal that includes the dismissal of three additional distribution charges and two counts of falsifying records. Standing beside his attorney, Plasencia answered brief questions from U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, confirming his legal team had reviewed all plea and sentencing options.
"Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry," the doctor's attorney, Debra White, said in an emailed statement after the hearing. "He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution. Dr. Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Mr. Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction."
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How did Matthew Perry die?
Matthew Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused primarily by the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and coronary artery disease also contributing factors.
What was Matthew Perry's cause of death?
The official autopsy identified the cause of death as "acute effects of ketamine," noting that Perry had high levels of the drug in his system, which triggered cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression, ultimately leading to drowning.
Prosecutors noted in court that Plasencia did not provide the final dose that killed Perry but admitted to regularly supplying him with ketamine in the month before his death.
According to court documents, he provided Perry with 20 vials of ketamine totaling 100 mg, along with lozenges and syringes. He also enlisted another physician, Dr. Mark Chavez, to assist in the scheme. In one text message, Plasencia referred to Perry as a "moron" and said, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," as noted in Chavez's plea agreement. After selling the drugs for $4,500, Plasencia reportedly asked Chavez if they could continue the arrangement and become Perry's "go-to" ketamine providers.
Who was charged related to Matthew Perry's death?
Five individuals have been charged in connection with providing the fatal doses of ketamine: two doctors, Perry's personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, a supplier named Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha (dubbed the "Ketamine Queen").
So far, four have pleaded guilty—including Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally distributing ketamine to Perry in the month before his death—while Sangha has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Update: 7/23/25, 2 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Update: 7/23/25, 5:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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