Following the arrest of five people in connection with the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry, one of two accused doctors has appeared in court. According to US media reports, the 54-year-old doctor from San Diego wants to admit his guilt of having procured the anesthetic ketamine for Perry. The judge in Los Angeles prohibited him from continuing to work as a doctor. He was released on bail. He faces up to ten years in prison.
The doctor’s lawyer told reporters that his client was incredibly remorseful. He wanted to do the right thing and cooperate with the prosecution. According to the indictment, the doctor is said to have sold a large amount of ketamine for Perry to a colleague in Los Angeles, using a fake prescription, among other things.
In mid-August, police and prosecutors made serious allegations against five people arrested, including doctors, dealers and an assistant to the actor. For months, the manhunt had focused on the question of how the actor had obtained the anesthetic ketamine, which he had an unusually high amount of in his blood at the time of his death. The investigation had “uncovered a widespread criminal underground network,” said prosecutor Martin Estrada. The defendants had exploited Perry’s addiction problems to enrich themselves.
The main defendants are a Los Angeles doctor and a drug supplier known as the “Ketamine Queen,” who are said to have supplied Perry with large quantities of ketamine on the black market last fall. Both have pleaded not guilty.
An assistant to the actor has already admitted his guilt of obtaining ketamine for Perry and injecting him with the drug without medical knowledge. The 59-year-old assistant faces up to 15 years in prison.
Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home last October. The actor had previously spoken publicly about his struggle with addiction, including to alcohol and drugs. Perry had reportedly undergone ketamine therapy under medical supervision for depression and anxiety. He had also obtained the drug on the black market.
Ketamine has been a proven anesthetic for decades. Some partygoers also use the drug as an illegal club drug. In addition, people with treatment-resistant depression can be treated with ketamine under certain conditions.
