Doctors charged with Matthew Perry’s death still have medical licenses: report
The doctors charged in connection to Matthew Perry’s death — Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Dr. Mark Chavez — are still licensed but cannot legally prescribe medication, TMZ reported Monday.
Both doctors have been charged with their respective roles in distributing ketamine to Perry, who died on Oct. 28, 2023 due to the “acute effects” of the medical anesthetic, and have even confirmed their involvement in supplying the beloved “Friends” star with it.
Despite the charges, the Medical Board of California investigated both doctors but found no reason to revoke their licenses.
“Regarding the California medical licenses of both physicians, the Board has not imposed any discipline on the medical licenses of Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia at this time,” the board confirmed to Page Six.
“The Board is actively investigating the matter and will take appropriate action specific to the facts and circumstances of the case following its investigation.”
Both of their licenses are listed on the Medical Board of California’s website without any restrictions.
Chavez’s is listed as “renewed & current” with an expiration date of June 30, 2026. Plasencia’s, meanwhile, has the same status with an expiration date of Oct. 31.
However, the US Drug Enforcement Administration later told TMZ that Chavez voluntarily gave up his right to write prescriptions last week as part of his plea deal and Plasencia’s registration was reportedly pulled.
The US Department of Justice announced Thursday that Plasencia, 42, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine plus seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.
Chavez, 54, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He confirmed in his plea agreement that he sold ketamine to Plasencia off-market for Perry’s use.
According to indictment documents, both doctors had been supplying the actor with ketamine since late September 2023. In incriminating text messages, they wondered how much “moron” Perry would pay for the drug.
Perry is thought to have paid the pair upward of $55,000 in cash in the weeks leading up to his sudden death.
“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said in a press statement. “Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials.”
Three other people were charged concerning the “17 Again” actor’s death, including his live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who regularly administered the drug for recreational use from Perry’s home.
Plasencia allegedly taught him how to inject the drug, which is used in medical settings to help patients with pain. He allegedly provided it in liquid form and via lozenges.
Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” and Eric Fleming were also charged with supplying Perry with ketamine.
Perry had spoken about his use of ketamine to treat his depression in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.”
He described it as a “giant exhale” and “being hit in the head with a giant happy shovel” but admitted it made him feel like he was “dying.”
Though he seemed to enjoy the benefits of ketamine, he ultimately denounced it, writing, “The hangover was rough and outweighed the shovel. Ketamine was not for me.”
However, he ended up addicted to the high, which his doctor pals were very aware of, according to the DOJ.
In fact, the DOJ claimed Plasencia told another patient Perry was “spiraling out of control with his addiction” — but continued supplying it anyway.
Following his plea deal, Chavez is facing up to 10 years in federal prison.
Plasencia faces 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years for each count of records falsification.
