The doctor accused of taking advantage of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry's addiction issues and supplying him with ketamine is set to resume his practice this week.
Dr Salvador Plasencia is among the five people charged in connection with the death of the actor.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report, Perry (54), who starred as Chandler Bing on 'Friends', died in October last year from 'acute effects of ketamine' and subsequent drowning.
The attorney of Plasencia said that his client will return to his practice at Malibu Canyon Care "anytime this week".
Plasencia had pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.
Meanwhile, three of the five people charged in connection with Perry’s death have reached plea agreements.
After posting a $100,000 bond and surrendering his passport and DEA license, which allowed him to prescribe controlled substances, Plasencia was released last week. His trial is set for October 8.
According to the Medical Board of California, Plasencia’s medical license is active through October 2024. Reportedly, the medical board has started investigating the doctor’s practices.
As Plasencia is all set to resume his practice, the judge’s order stated that his patients are required to sign a consent form acknowledging the pending federal case against him and that he cannot prescribe any controlled substances.
According to court documents, learning Perry had an interest in purchasing Palsencia was accused of purchasing ketamine through another physician- Dr Mark Chavez.
The documents also highlighted that Chavez provided Plasencia with the ketamine, which was given to Perry, through a fraudulent prescription.
Prosecutors also claimed that over the next several weeks, Plasencia purchased ketamine from Chavez, sold vials of the drug to Perry’s assistant and taught the assistant how to administer the drug.
It was also alleged that Plasencia went to Perry’s house to drop off ketamine and even injected the drug for Perry in the back of a vehicle in a parking lot.
Prosecutors also alleged that on October 12, more than two weeks before Perry’s death, Plasencia “administered a large dose” to Perry that caused Perry’s systolic blood pressure to spike and he froze up, unable to speak or move.
