Matthew Perry parents condemn doctor as most responsible in son's fatal ketamine case

Matthew Perry’s parents have sharply criticized the doctor involved in their son’s fatal ketamine overdose, describing him as “among the most culpable of all,” according to victim impact statements obtained by RadarOnline.com.

The Friends actor died in October 2023 at age 54 while under the acute effects of ketamine. Dr. Salvador Plasencia—one of five individuals convicted in connection with the case—has pleaded guilty to distributing the drug to Perry “without a legitimate medical purpose” and is scheduled to be sentenced today.

Perry’s mother, Suzanne, and stepfather, journalist Keith Morrison, expressed profound anger toward Plasencia in their written statement submitted to the court. They said that after years of supporting their son through addiction, “greedy jackals” undermined his efforts to stay alive. They argued that Plasencia’s actions, including allegedly providing drugs secretly and violating his medical oath, directly contributed to their son’s death.

Their letter described their grief as “a deep well” and emphasized that Perry was working toward a meaningful “third act” in life when those he trusted took advantage of his vulnerability.

Perry’s father, John, and stepmother, Debby, echoed the sentiment in their own victim impact letter. They described Perry as a loving family anchor and questioned how a medical professional could repeatedly supply him with ketamine despite his long, public struggle with addiction. They urged the court to impose a sentence beyond the mandatory minimum.

Plasencia—known informally as “Dr. P”—previously appeared in federal court in July to finalize his plea agreement. While he faced up to 40 years in prison prior to the deal, he now faces a maximum of 10 years when he appears for sentencing on December 3.

Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home, and authorities determined he had overdosed before drowning. His death, and the subsequent investigation, led to multiple criminal prosecutions, with Plasencia’s case being the final sentencing among the five convicted individuals.