Will doctors face consequences following arrests in Matthew Perry’s death?

Two medical doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, are among the five people charged in connection with the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry. Perry was found unresponsive in his pool last year, with his death being caused by the acute effects of ketamine. Plasencia and Chavez are accused of conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry and deliberately fueling his addiction for profit. Plasencia is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distributing ketamine, and falsifying records. Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, as he sold the drug to Plasencia and submitted fake prescriptions. The doctors coordinated to obtain large amounts of ketamine for Perry and taught him how to inject the drug. Criminal charges against doctors are rare, mostly tied to opioid overdoses, and are typically related to everyday Americans rather than celebrities. There has been a crackdown on physicians overprescribing opioids, while illegally manufactured fentanyl has contributed to tens of thousands of opioid-related deaths. Prosecutors face challenges in proving doctors distributed drugs without a legitimate medical reason. Cases like these serve to hold individuals accountable and deter others from breaching standards of care. The charges against the doctors distributing ketamine to Perry highlight the importance of accountability and maintaining standards of care in the medical profession.

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