In a shocking development, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the physicians implicated in the tragic ketamine overdose of renowned actor Matthew Perry, has resumed his medical practice.
Despite facing serious charges, he is still permitted to see patients.
According to The Independent, Dr. Plasencia, along with Dr. Mark Chavez, was indicted for conspiring to distribute ketamine following the discovery of Perry's lifeless body in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades residence in October of last year. Three other individuals, including Perry's former personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, a man identified as Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha, infamously known as the "Ketamine Queen," have also been charged. Dr. Plasencia, colloquially referred to as "Dr. P," faces additional charges of distributing ketamine and tampering with records pertinent to the federal investigation.
In a surprising turn of events, Dr. Plasencia seems to be returning to his profession. A notice was observed on the door of his practice, acknowledging the charges against him and informing patients of his inability to prescribe any controlled substances. The sign at the Malibu Canyon Urgent Care in Calabasas stated, Dr. Plasencia has surrendered his DEA registration number and currently cannot prescribe any controlled substances. He still maintains a medical license issued by the State of California.
Stefan Sacks, Plasencia's legal counsel, informed The LA Times that his client can still provide treatment under certain conditions. However, he must disclose the charges against him, and patients must sign a consent form if they choose to proceed with the treatment. Sacks stated, The conditions are that he disclose in writing the existence of the pending federal case, and the fact that he cannot prescribe controlled substances. Patients are then required to sign a written consent form for treatment So basically the requirement is disclosure and informed consent.
Prosecutors allege that Plasencia instructed Iwamasa on how to administer the fatal ketamine dose to Perry. The doctor reportedly injected Perry in the backseat of his car during a meeting in Long Beach. The Department of Justice's indictment suggests that Plasencia viewed Perry as a lucrative opportunity, citing text messages he sent to Chavez a month prior to the actor's death. I wonder how much this moron will pay, he wrote in one. Lets find out, he wrote in another. In a third text to Chavez, Plasencia described meeting Perry as like a bad movie.
The Department of Justice, in a statement announcing the arrests, said, Matthew Perrys 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.
If convicted, Plasencia could face up to 10 years in prison for each ketamine-related charge and up to 20 years for each count of record falsification. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear in court on October 8. Sangha has also pleaded not guilty and is set to appear in court in October, while Fleming, Chavez, and Iwamasa have agreed to a plea deal. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of unethical medical practices and the importance of maintaining the sacred trust between doctors and patients.
Login