Lawyer for Doctor Charged in Matthew Perry's Death Claims the Doctor Just Wanted to 'Help' the Actor 'Ease His Problems'

Mar. 15, 2025

Matthew Perry (left) and Salvador Plasencia.Photo:David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty; Malibu Canyon Urgent Care

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty; Malibu Canyon Urgent Care

Peacock’s new documentaryMatthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedyis re-examining the death of the belovedFriendsstar.Matthew Perrydied at the age of 54in October 2023 from an accidental ketamine overdose after openly struggling with addiction for more than two decades. Ten months later,five people were charged in connectionwith his death, including medical doctorsSalvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez.“In the past, we used to call these things ‘overdose deaths’ and do more blaming of the victim,” Former United States Attorney for the State of California Central District Martin Estrada, who launched the investigation but stepped down from the role in January, says in the documentary. “We don’t do that anymore. We blame the drug dealers, the drug sellers, for taking advantage of those addiction issues that cause death and serious injury.“Matthew Perry in 2022.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagicWhile Chavez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and agreed to cooperate with authorities, Plasencia entered a not-guilty plea after being charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents.In a clip included in the documentary, Plasencia’s attorney Stefan Sacks explains why his client is maintaining his innocence.“Dr. Plasencia was trying to help Mr. Perry and provide medical care that would ease his problems,” Sacks says. “Dr. Plasencia wasn’t aware that Mr. Perry was obtaining ketamine from other individuals initially, and when it became apparent that there might be something else going on, he wasn’t providing any ketamine to Mr. Perry at that point.”Estrada disagrees with Sacks; he believes Plasencia knew what he was doing was wrong.“Dr. Plasencia was very clear in text messages and other messages in saying that he saw this as an opportunity to make a lot of money in a short amount of time, and he allegedly did just that,” Estrada says. “He sets the prices — which were exorbitant — and the indictment contains evidence that he sold, over about a month, 20 vials of ketamine in exchange for $55,000.”“They even talked about the fact that this wasn’t the right way to administer ketamine, yet it was the golden opportunity to make money,” he adds. “And at one point, Dr. Plasencia writes to Dr. Chavez, ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay.’ ”Matthew Perry in 2017.Frazer Harrison/GettyBy mid October, weeks before Perry’s death, Estrada claims, Plasencia “had numerous red flags that were flashing in front of him,” but he did not stop providing Perry with ketamine. Estrada went on to say that, per the indictment, Plasencia eventaught Perry’s live-in assistanthow to inject the drug, and that is who ultimately gave Perry the dose that killed him.“A trained doctor like Dr. Plasencia knew much better,” Estrada adds. “One of the overall themes of our indictment is that all these defendants should have known better. They were taking advantage of an individual and letting their greed drive them to endanger Mr. Perry’s life.”Sacks, however, hasn’t wavered in his defense of his client,previously saying in court: “At the end of the day, Dr. Plasencia was providing medical treatment to Mr. Perry. He was operating in good faith under what he believed was his duty and whether or not there was a lapse in judgement in retrospect, it doesn’t negate the fact that he was pursuing this with the best of medical intention.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Peacock’s new documentaryMatthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedyis re-examining the death of the belovedFriendsstar.

Matthew Perrydied at the age of 54in October 2023 from an accidental ketamine overdose after openly struggling with addiction for more than two decades. Ten months later,five people were charged in connectionwith his death, including medical doctorsSalvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez.

“In the past, we used to call these things ‘overdose deaths’ and do more blaming of the victim,” Former United States Attorney for the State of California Central District Martin Estrada, who launched the investigation but stepped down from the role in January, says in the documentary. “We don’t do that anymore. We blame the drug dealers, the drug sellers, for taking advantage of those addiction issues that cause death and serious injury.”

Matthew Perry in 2022.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

While Chavez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and agreed to cooperate with authorities, Plasencia entered a not-guilty plea after being charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents.

In a clip included in the documentary, Plasencia’s attorney Stefan Sacks explains why his client is maintaining his innocence.

“Dr. Plasencia was trying to help Mr. Perry and provide medical care that would ease his problems,” Sacks says. “Dr. Plasencia wasn’t aware that Mr. Perry was obtaining ketamine from other individuals initially, and when it became apparent that there might be something else going on, he wasn’t providing any ketamine to Mr. Perry at that point.”

Estrada disagrees with Sacks; he believes Plasencia knew what he was doing was wrong.

“Dr. Plasencia was very clear in text messages and other messages in saying that he saw this as an opportunity to make a lot of money in a short amount of time, and he allegedly did just that,” Estrada says. “He sets the prices — which were exorbitant — and the indictment contains evidence that he sold, over about a month, 20 vials of ketamine in exchange for $55,000.”

“They even talked about the fact that this wasn’t the right way to administer ketamine, yet it was the golden opportunity to make money,” he adds. “And at one point, Dr. Plasencia writes to Dr. Chavez, ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay.’ ”

Matthew Perry in 2017.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

By mid October, weeks before Perry’s death, Estrada claims, Plasencia “had numerous red flags that were flashing in front of him,” but he did not stop providing Perry with ketamine. Estrada went on to say that, per the indictment, Plasencia eventaught Perry’s live-in assistanthow to inject the drug, and that is who ultimately gave Perry the dose that killed him.

“A trained doctor like Dr. Plasencia knew much better,” Estrada adds. “One of the overall themes of our indictment is that all these defendants should have known better. They were taking advantage of an individual and letting their greed drive them to endanger Mr. Perry’s life.”

Sacks, however, hasn’t wavered in his defense of his client,previously saying in court: “At the end of the day, Dr. Plasencia was providing medical treatment to Mr. Perry. He was operating in good faith under what he believed was his duty and whether or not there was a lapse in judgement in retrospect, it doesn’t negate the fact that he was pursuing this with the best of medical intention.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

source: people.com