Matthew Perry’s ketamine doctor avoids jail in shock ruling as court hears he now drives Uber for a living

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A doctor linked to the investigation into Matthew Perry’s death has received a sentence that keeps them out of jail.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the case of Matthew Perry’s passing closely, and the sentencing of Dr. Mark Chavez just came down. It’s a really complex situation, but essentially, Dr. Chavez, one of the two doctors convicted in connection with Matthew’s 2023 overdose, received eight months of home confinement. Considering he could have faced up to ten years in prison, it’s a significantly lighter sentence. It really highlights the nuances of accountability in these tragic circumstances.

Last year, he admitted to conspiring to distribute ketamine and pleaded guilty after acknowledging he sold the drug—which he’d obtained through fraudulent means—to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia.

According to prosecutors, Perry received ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death. While neither doctor provided the specific dose that caused the overdose, both were aware of Perry’s history with substance abuse and that he intended to use the drug without a doctor’s care.

Earlier this month, Chavez’s lawyers told the court that he’d already suffered significant consequences, including losing his job, money, and reputation.

After losing his medical license and professional standing, Chavez is now earning a living as a ride-share driver. His attorneys are asking the court to recognize the time he has already spent in custody.

According to court documents filed December 3rd, he is now earning a small income as a rideshare driver and has no money or possessions left after losing his job, good name, and financial security.

I was really shocked to hear about the sentence for Plasencia. After admitting to distributing ketamine on four separate occasions, he received a full 30 months in federal prison – it feels like a very severe penalty, honestly.

Chilling text messages between the two doctors played a major role in the case.

In a message to Chavez about setting a price for Perry, Plasencia questioned how much Perry would be willing to pay, using a derogatory term.

Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, later referenced that message in a moving statement he gave to the court about the impact of the crime.

He described a doctor who repeatedly violated his professional oath, secretly meeting with the patient he was betraying. All of this, he claimed, was for a few thousand dollars – to exploit a vulnerable person, and even boast about how much money he could get away with, asking, ‘How much will this fool pay?’ and intending to find out.

As previously reported, Perry overdosed on ketamine and drowned in his hot tub in 2023. 

His assistant found him deceased on October 28th, and the medical examiner determined that he died from ketamine intoxication.

The actor was legally receiving ketamine from his doctor to treat his depression, which is a treatment that more and more doctors are using these days.

Sentencing dates haven’t been set yet for Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, drug dealer Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha, who is known as the ‘Ketamine Queen.’ All three are expected to be sentenced in the next few weeks.

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2025-12-17 00:18