One of the doctors who pleaded guilty in connection with supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine, which contributed to his fatal overdose, has been sentenced.
The actor, who was adored by a legion of fans for his role as Chandler Bing, died in October 2023, with an autopsy later revealing the cause of death was ‘acute effects of ketamine’.
Mark Chavez has now been sentenced to eight months of home confinement and three years of supervised release.
The doctor was charged with conspiring to distribute ketamine, which Perry was using as a form of depression and anxiety therapy.
Chavez, of San Diego, signed a plea agreement with prosecutors in August, before he became the third person to plead guilty in relation to Perry’s 2023 death at his Los Angeles home.
He admitted to selling ketamine to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, who supplied ketamine to Perry.
Chavez told the judge on Tuesday that he had recently lost a loved one and understood the grief that Perry’s death caused.
‘I just want to say my heart goes out to the Perry family,’ he added.
Having been stripped of his medical license, Chavez’s lawyer said he is now working as a ride-share driver.
His lawyer, Matthew Binninger, previously said that Chavez was ‘incredibly remorseful’ and is ‘trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.’
The Friends actor was found dead at the age of 54 in October 2023.
According to court documents, Perry was taking ketamine 6 to 8 times a day in the time leading up to his death, which was provided to him by a ‘network of corrupt doctors,’ according to his ex-girlfriend and close friend.
What is ketamine therapy?
Ketamine is used as a treatment for depression which has not responded to other interventions, with unknown long-term effects.
The NHS states that it has a ‘rapid antidepressant effect’ which lasts from one to three days. Within two weeks, the majority of patients relapse.
It is administered intravenously and is licensed as an anaesthetic in the UK, but not as an antidepressant.
According to Oxford Health NHS, who offer ketamine therapy privately, around 50% of patients respond well and want to continue treatment.
Chavez is among five people who have pleaded guilty to drug-related charges stemming from the actor’s death. They include Plasencia, who was sentenced earlier this month to 30 months in prison.
Prosecutors offered lesser charges to Chavez and two others in exchange for their cooperation.
The Friends cast recently marked the two-year anniversary of his death.
Jennifer Aniston, 56, Courteney Cox, 61, Matt LeBlanc, 58, Lisa Kudrow, 62, and David Schwimmer, 59, contributed to a special collection of artwork for The Matthew Perry Foundation.
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