One of the two doctors charged in Matthew Perry’s ketamine-induced death is legally permitted to reopen his medical practice, which he fully intends to do.
Dr. Salvador “Dr. P” Plasencia can resume operations — including treating patients — at Malibu Canyon Urgent Care as early as Tuesday, but must inform all patients about the ongoing case against him, his attorney Stefan Sacks told TMZ.
Malibu Canyon Urgent Care, the clinic operated by Dr. Salvador Plasencia. (Google)
Plasencia also has to inform patients that federal authorities stripped him of his DEA registration, meaning he can no longer prescribe medications, including controlled substances like ketamine, per Sacks.
According to his lawyer, Plasencia can still distribute antibiotics and other non-controlled drugs, though patients must provide written confirmation that they still want Plasencia to treat them.
Plasencia has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as well as seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying documents related to the federal investigation. Plasencia pleaded not guilty on Thursday to all charges and was released on a $100,00 bond.
Perry was 54 when he was found dead in his hot tub on Oct. 28, 2023, with toxicology reports ruling he’d succumbed to the “acute effects of ketamine.”
Though he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time to address depression and anxiety, it was believed the “Friends” star was otherwise sober.
Prosecutors allege that his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, repeatedly injected him with the dissociative anesthetic in the weeks leading up to his death, and three times on the day of. Plasencia is accused of having instructed Iwamasa on how to do so, though he knew the latter had no medical training.
Iwamasa has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
Dr. Mark Chavez, who allegedly used his former ketamine clinic to sell drugs to Plasencia, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Jasveen Sangha, better known as the “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles,” faces a total of nine counts in connection with Perry’s death, including one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. She has pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bond after being deemed a flight risk.
Director-producer Erik Fleming, who allegedly brokered the drug deals, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.