Two medical doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, have been charged in connection with the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry. Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in his pool and the cause of death was determined to be the acute effects of ketamine. The doctors are accused of conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry and fueling his addiction in order to profit. Plasencia faces multiple charges while Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. The charges against the doctors are rare, as criminal cases against doctors in overdose situations are generally tied to the opioid crisis. While famous cases like Dr. Conrad Murray’s involvement in Michael Jackson’s death have garnered attention, most cases involve doctors treating everyday Americans. The high-profile nature of Perry’s death motivated authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. Overall, criminal charges against doctors are uncommon, with the majority related to opioid overdoses. A decrease in the number of doctors facing charges has been observed in recent years. The legal challenges of prosecuting doctors in drug cases include proving distribution without a legitimate medical reason, which can be difficult to establish. The charges against the doctors in Perry’s case are significant as they highlight the importance of holding individuals accountable and setting standards of care to deter others from similar actions.
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