MATTHEW PERRY DEAD AT 54

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1824138743919546751

 

[mickey2942]

I have seen lots of comments on news stories from people upset this was being followed up on. In most overdoses, there may not be any way to determine who provided the drugs. But in this case there was, because it was probably given by a physician. I fully support these investigations.

I am not so sure. Physicians prescribe medications, based on symptoms presented by the patient. If a patient does not follow the prescribed dosage, or takes other substances with the medication that is contraindicated, how is this the responsibility of the physician? This also includes participation in activities that are contraindicated by the medication instructions.

Physicians are so fearful of the "witch hunts" for over prescribing opiods, that qualified medical providers that manage chronic pain are difficult to find. Case in point, my husband has a documented service connected injury, from service in the military in a war zone. He has shrapnel in his back. Even, 50 years later from his injury, shards of metal come out of his skin. They were too small or embedded to remove surgically.

Physicians have refused to provide pain medication to him. A decorated military veteran was told to "do yoga" to control his pain. He can barely move. We have to drive over 300 miles to a qualified pain management provider each month for his meds. And arrests of providers who do give opioid prescriptions means maybe less physicians will provide needed care for people who have chronic pain conditions.

 

[Inthedetails]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1824138743919546751

Shame on all of them. jmo

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I am not so sure. Physicians prescribe medications, based on symptoms presented by the patient. If a patient does not follow the prescribed dosage, or takes other substances with the medication that is contraindicated, how is this the responsibility of the physician? This also includes participation in activities that are contraindicated by the medication instructions.

Physicians are so fearful of the "witch hunts" for over prescribing opiods, that qualified medical providers that manage chronic pain are difficult to find. Case in point, my husband has a documented service connected injury, from service in the military in a war zone. He has shrapnel in his back. Even, 50 years later from his injury, shards of metal come out of his skin. They were too small or embedded to remove surgically.

Physicians have refused to provide pain medication to him. A decorated military veteran was told to "do yoga" to control his pain. He can barely move. We have to drive over 300 miles to a qualified pain management provider each month for his meds. And arrests of providers who do give opioid prescriptions means maybe less physicians will provide needed care for people who have chronic pain conditions.

This is inexcusable! I'm so sorry this happened.

What you say is true. The DEA has put the fear of God into doctors and pharmacists to the point that people who legitimately need controlled substances for a medical condition, be it pain, ADHD, or even drug addiction, aren't being treated. The policy and over-zealous actions of the feds has actually handicapped legitimate treatment and further stigmatized conditions for which a controlled substance is indicated.

Now, I will say that if these doctors were in any way practicing outside the scope of legitimate treatment, then they should be punished the fullest extent of the law and it goes without saying they should never practice medicine again. Bad doctors are the ones who are ruining medicine and preventing patients from getting the care they need. But we shouldn't jump on-board the bad doctor train until we see the evidence.

MOO.

 

[DianaWW]

Well the fact there were texts saying ‘how much is this moron willing to pay’, and that they were charging him thousands of dollars doesn’t look great for them. JMO. (Linked above)

 

[PrairieWind]

I am not so sure. Physicians prescribe medications, based on symptoms presented by the patient. If a patient does not follow the prescribed dosage, or takes other substances with the medication that is contraindicated, how is this the responsibility of the physician? This also includes participation in activities that are contraindicated by the medication instructions.

Physicians are so fearful of the "witch hunts" for over prescribing opiods, that qualified medical providers that manage chronic pain are difficult to find. Case in point, my husband has a documented service connected injury, from service in the military in a war zone. He has shrapnel in his back. Even, 50 years later from his injury, shards of metal come out of his skin. They were too small or embedded to remove surgically.

Physicians have refused to provide pain medication to him. A decorated military veteran was told to "do yoga" to control his pain. He can barely move. We have to drive over 300 miles to a qualified pain management provider each month for his meds. And arrests of providers who do give opioid prescriptions means maybe less physicians will provide needed care for people who have chronic pain conditions.

These were two doctors that were writing apparently bogus prescripts and not injecting him in the office, but giving it to him for home use, knowing his history. The were providing it for recreational use.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

These were two doctors that were writing apparently bogus prescripts and not injecting him in the office, but giving it to him for home use, knowing his history. The were providing it for recreational use.

I don't know enough about the case to say one way or another if these docs were supplying for recreational use or if the scripts were bogus, but just chiming in to say that Ketamine can be used at home and someone's history of substance use should be taken into account, but isn't a contraindication to treatment. Ketamine is used off label for a number of health conditions, including mental health conditions, but its use is controversial in general. I'll be curious to read the details of what these doctors did in the coming weeks.

 

[PrairieWind]

I don't know enough about the case to say one way or another if these docs were supplying for recreational use or if the scripts were bogus, but just chiming in to say that Ketamine can be used at home and someone's history of substance use should be taken into account, but isn't a contraindication to treatment. Ketamine is used off label for a number of health conditions, including mental health conditions, but its use is controversial in general. I'll be curious to read the details of what these doctors did in the coming weeks.

Matthew Perry death investigation: Actor's assistant, doctors, among 5 charged with his ketamine overdose

Two doctors, among others, have been charged in the overdose death of Matthew Perry. He died on Oct. 28, 2023.

www.yahoo.com

Perry became addicted apparently when he was being treated for depression. Then his treating physicians refused to increase his doses as he wanted. So Perry started going elsewhere. The new doctor was just interested in making money as evidenced by the texts with the other doctor (who allegedly was illegally diverting Ketamine from his own clinic) saying "I wonder how much is this moron will pay?" These docs, through their DEA credentials and prescription writing privileges are just selling Ketamine and other controlled substances for cash. AND to someone they knew or should have known was addicted.

It sounds like these people were already on the Fed's radar anyway and that was part of the reason for the scope of the investigation.

 

[Cedars]

I don't know enough about the case to say one way or another if these docs were supplying for recreational use or if the scripts were bogus, but just chiming in to say that Ketamine can be used at home and someone's history of substance use should be taken into account, but isn't a contraindication to treatment. Ketamine is used off label for a number of health conditions, including mental health conditions, but its use is controversial in general. I'll be curious to read the details of what these doctors did in the coming weeks.

It's in the affadavits, outright fraud by these doctors, using other patient's prescriptions and lying/creating false patients for the suppliers. This isn't about grey areas of treatment modalities.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

Placencia and Chavez allegedly charged Perry $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that would cost Chavez about $12. As his addiction grew, Perry went to the streets for his ketamine where he ultimately bought the drugs that resulted in his death.

From September to October 2023, officials say Perry paid the doctors $55,000 in cash in exchange for 20 vials of ketamine which Iwamasa would administer to the actor.

If interested, full article at link...

Matthew Perry paid dealers $2k per vial of ketamine before death: officials

Perry allegedly paid doctors $2,000 for a $12 vial of ketamine before his fatal overdose in October.

www.newsweek.com

Updated Aug 15, 2024 at 3:00 PM EDT

 

[abyquinn]

Two doctors and the 'ketamine queen' charged in overdose death of actor Matthew Perry

Two other individuals, including Perry's live-in personal assistant, were charged on Thursday in connection with Perry’s death last year from ketamine.

www.nbcnews.com

NAMES OF Those charged are;
1. Kenneth Iwamasa (PA)
2. Dr.Salvador Plasencia
3.Javeen Sangha ("Ketamine Queen")
4.Dr. Mark Chavez
5. Eric Fleming (apparently the delivery guy

Sangha, 41, and Plasencia, 42, were both arrested on Thursday in southern California. They were both charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Sangha, a North Hollywood resident who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and U.K., was also charged with several other drug related offenses.

 

[tezi]

From the article:

Guess it's uncommon if you're unfortunate enough to just be a normal member of society.

Exactly how I feel. If it was a "normal" member of society, they would have been written off as an overdose, no investigation. It was only happenstance that this investigation discovered someone else died and charged the person responsible. I am not trying to negate Matthew Perry's death, I just wish the law was applied equally to everyone who has taken tainted drugs or overdosed. I have lost someone to an overdose and it sucks, but the law wasn't applied to his death, because he wasn't a celebrity or someone who seemed to have a greater value to the world at large.

JMO, IMO, and all other disclaimers.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Matthew Perry death investigation: Actor's assistant, doctors, among 5 charged with his ketamine overdose

Two doctors, among others, have been charged in the overdose death of Matthew Perry. He died on Oct. 28, 2023.

www.yahoo.com

Perry became addicted apparently when he was being treated for depression. Then his treating physicians refused to increase his doses as he wanted. So Perry started going elsewhere. The new doctor was just interested in making money as evidenced by the texts with the other doctor (who allegedly was illegally diverting Ketamine from his own clinic) saying "I wonder how much is this moron will pay?" These docs, through their DEA credentials and prescription writing privileges are just selling Ketamine and other controlled substances for cash. AND to someone they knew or should have known was addicted.

It sounds like these people were already on the Fed's radar anyway and that was part of the reason for the scope of the investigation.

I'm curious to see the actual evidence rather than the allegations.

The article linked says: "He's accused of distributing ketamine to Perry and the actor's live-in personal assistant "outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose on at least seven occasions."

If true that it was outside the usual course of professional practice, then he should face the consequences. But "without a legitimate medical purpose" is vague and arbitrary considering its use is off-label for just about anything it's prescribed for. That's what I mean.

This other part:
"He admitted in his plea agreement to selling ketamine to Plasencia and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine."

I'd also like to learn more about this. I don't know the laws regarding Ketamine clinics, but I'm pretty sure you can't just sell your supply. I'd be curious though if it was for the purpose of Dr. P opening a clinic (still illegal, I think) or for Dr. P to sell to patients. I think that makes a difference in terms of charges. So I'll be curious to hear more about that part of it.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

It's in the affadavits, outright fraud by these doctors, using other patient's prescriptions and lying/creating false patients for the suppliers. This isn't about grey areas of treatment modalities.

JMO

Where is the affadavit? I didn't see it linked in the thread but might have missed it.

 

[flowershop]

Here's some facts on ketamine. It is a schedule III substance. For reference, heroin is a schedule I. It is still physically and psychologically addictive.

Ketamine Fast Facts

 

[Cedars]

Where is the affadavit? I didn't see it linked in the thread but might have missed it.

I can't find a link yet either - I suppose there will be multiples, one for each person. However prosecutors were essentially quoting from it in the news conference.

Matthew Perry's assistant among 5 people, including 2 doctors, charged in 'Friends' star's death

A prosecutor says five people have been charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death, including the actor’s assistant and two doctors.

apnews.com

JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

Exactly how I feel. If it was a "normal" member of society, they would have been written off as an overdose, no investigation. It was only happenstance that this investigation discovered someone else died and charged the person responsible. I am not trying to negate Matthew Perry's death, I just wish the law was applied equally to everyone who has taken tainted drugs or overdosed. I have lost someone to an overdose and it sucks, but the law wasn't applied to his death, because he wasn't a celebrity or someone who seemed to have a greater value to the world at large.

JMO, IMO, and all other disclaimers.

I think maybe people are misunderstanding why this was investigated as it was. First, in many overdose cases, there isn't much if any trail to follow. If it is bought off the street, real names aren't used, cash, there is no path for police to follow. This case different for two reasons. Perry was leaving tracks as to who was involved (his PA). But also, these folks were already being investigated by authorities. So they didn't have to start from scratch.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Will the doctors lose their medical licenses?
These people, except Matthew Perry, sound so greedy and despicable. IMO they shouldn't be given plea deals. They would have known the risks to health and his life.

 

[arielilane]

(NewsNation) — U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said that “Friends” actor Matthew Perry’s drug dealeralso sold drugs to another person who overdosed in 2019.

Perry’s dealer, Jasveen Sangha, sold approximately 50 vials of ketamine for approximately $11,000 in cash to Perry in October 2023. Sangha sold Perry the batch of ketamine that resulted in his death.

Estrada said in a press conference that during the investigation into Perry’s death, investigators found that Sangha sold ketamine to Cody McLaury, who overdosed in 2019. After McLaury died, a family member sent a message to Sangha telling her that ketamine was the cause of McLaury’s death.

Complete story at link...

https://www.newsnationnow.com/entertainment-news/matthew-perry-dealer-2019-overdose/

Updated: AUG 15, 2024 / 04:42 PM CDT

 

[airportwoman]

From the article:

Guess it's uncommon if you're unfortunate enough to just be a normal member of society.

Not necessarily. If a "real person" OD's, they can definitely get people in trouble.

Back in my active-pharmacist days, a teenage girl took two MSContins at a "bowl party", and died. In the end, a pharmacist I had previously worked with, and his technician, went to prison (and another former co-worker had his license briefly suspended during the investigation, because he had worked with that technician; all of them were Walgreens overnighters) and then they got additional charges when the autopsy revealed that the young woman was pregnant. It was so early that she may not have even suspected it herself, but they were still able to get them on "nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy" charges.

If you don't know, a "bowl party" is where people show up with assorted tablets and capsules, and dump them into a bowl and people can help themselves, like it's a candy dish.