Matthew Perry’s Death: 5 Including Doctors And His Assistant Get Charged; Authorities Reveal Exploitation of Actor’s Addiction

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As a fervent admirer of Matthew Perry and his iconic role as Chandler Bing in Friends, I was deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise. However, upon reading about the charges against five individuals, including his live-in assistant and two doctors, I find myself outraged at their callous actions that led to such a tragic outcome.

Five individuals, among them Matthew Perry’s residential aide and two physicians, are facing accusations related to Perry’s tragic death from excessive ketamine, a medically regulated anesthetic, on October 28 of last year. The doctors allegedly took advantage of Perry’s addiction struggles during the final stages of his life by administering him dangerous quantities of ketamine, according to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, as he disclosed the charges on Thursday, August 15.

According to Estrada, they were aware that their actions could potentially cause significant damage to Mr. Perry. Yet, despite this knowledge, they chose to proceed.

On the day of Perry’s demise, as reported by AP News, Kenneth Iwamasa administered multiple doses of the drug to him. It was Iwamasa who discovered the actor unconscious in the jacuzzi later that day and was the initial person to converse with investigators, according to numerous previous media reports.

Perry was undergoing routine ketamine injections for depression, given by his usual physicians, in doses that were safe and did not lead to his demise. It’s important to note that his regular doctors were not implicated in the charges brought forward by the authorities.

Estrada clarified that they were not discussing legal ketamine therapy. Instead, he emphasized his concern about two physicians who misused the trust placed in them, violated their medical licenses, and potentially endangered someone’s life.

As per DEA Administrator Anne Milgram’s statement, on a single occasion, an individual paid a sum of $2,000 for a vial of ketamine, while one doctor had only spent $12 for the same item. The lawyer also disclosed that this individual had reportedly spent approximately $55,000 in cash over a two-month period leading up to his death.

On Thursday, it was reported by Estrada that two people, one of whom is a suspecting doctor, were taken into custody. Moreover, two accused parties, among them Iwamasa, have previously admitted guilt, while a third individual has consented to plead guilty as well.

One of the individuals taken into custody is Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who stands accused of seven instances of ketamine distribution and two additional charges involving allegations that he falsified records following Perry’s demise. In court on Thursday, he entered a plea of not guilty, and upon posting a $100,000 bond, he may be released.

In court, Plasencia’s lawyer requested permission for his client to carry on treating patients following release, emphasizing that he had given up his DEA license for prescribing harmful medications. However, Ian V. Yanniello, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, disagreed with the proposal, asserting that Plasencia behaved like a drug dealer on street corners in Perry’s case. Nonetheless, Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar granted Plasencia’s petition, enabling him to see patients but only after they signed a statement acknowledging they were aware of the allegations against him.

On Thursday, another individual taken into custody in connection with the case is Jasveen Sangha, who has been labeled a drug dealer by prosecutors and nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen” by her clientele. However, her lawyer disputes this moniker, asserting it was fabricated for sensationalism purposes. Law enforcement officials allege that the ketamine provided by Sangha led to Perry’s demise.

As a conscientious advocate of wellness, I found myself standing before the court, adamantly asserting my innocence regarding allegations linked to the distribution of ketamine. Despite my plea, the judge decided against granting me bail. Initially apprehended in March for these charges, I was initially released on bond; however, the authorities chose to keep my associate, Perry, out of the limelight during this ordeal.

If found guilty, Plasencia may serve up to 120 years behind bars, according to the prosecution, while Sangha potentially faces a term of imprisonment for life.

In a legal agreement, Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego, a medical practitioner, has consented to admit guilt for conspiring to illegally distribute ketamine. According to the accusers, he secretly supplied the drug to Plasencia after obtaining it from a wholesale supplier through a false prescription.

In summary, Erik Fleming, who was the last defendant in the case, admitted to acquiring the drug from Sangha and subsequently supplying it to Iwamasa. Over the course of events, he provided a total of 50 vials of ketamine for Perry’s usage, with 25 of these being given four days prior to the actor’s demise.

Perry’s battles with addiction can be traced back to his days on Friends, a popular sitcom that aired for 10 seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2004. He was a main cast member alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc in this beloved TV show.

If you’re aware that someone is dealing with a substance abuse problem, I encourage you to contact the relevant authorities or organizations for help. Various resources, such as hotlines, are readily available to assist in these situations.

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2024-08-16 06:53