Doctor accused of distributing drugs to Matthew Perry pleads guilty

Legal & Ethical Concerns in Healthcare & Entertainment Industries - A doctor, Dr Salvador Placencia, pleaded guilty to four charges of distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry, facing up to 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines [1][2] - Dr Placencia's legal team stated he is remorseful for his treatment decisions and hopes this serves as a warning to other medical professionals [6] - Text messages revealed Dr Placencia and another doctor, Dr Mark Chavez, discussed how much money they could get from Perry, indicating exploitation of his addiction [7] Criminal Investigation & Legal Proceedings - Dr Placencia initially pleaded not guilty, but later entered a guilty plea, with sentencing scheduled for early December [3][5][6] - The prosecutors took away some of the charges that they had initially brought against him and those four others [5] - One of five people charged in Perry's death, a dealer known as the "ketamine queen," is set to face trial later this year [3][9] Substance Abuse & Mental Health Treatment - Matthew Perry was being supplied with ketamine to treat depression and anxiety when he was found dead [2] - Perry had openly spoken about his addiction and was in ketamine treatment, raising concerns about the extent of his ketamine use and potential exploitation by medical professionals [2][8] Legal Strategy & Representation - The "ketamine queen" is represented by Mark Geragos, a celebrity attorney, indicating a vigorous defense strategy [10] - The trial of the "ketamine queen" is expected to start in the fall, potentially revealing more about Matthew Perry's final days and other individuals she allegedly supplied drugs to [10][11]