Five Arrested in Connection to Matthew Perry's Death
The Facts
Five people were arrested and charged on Thursday in connection with the months-long investigation into the death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry last year from "acute effects" of ketamine.
Three of them, including his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Dr. Mark Chavez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, and two others — Jasveen Sangha, alias "The Ketamine Queen," and Dr. Salvador Plasencia — were set to be arraigned later on Thursday.
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite last year's fatal overdose of Matthew Perry triggering panic at infusion centers in Los Angeles and prompting safety worries among patients, this tragedy has actually nothing to do with ketamine medical treatment.
Narrative B
The FDA approved ketamine as a general anesthetic in 1970, so it would be odd to deny that this drug can be safe and even highly effective if used under careful medical supervision. The death of Matthew Perry, however, demonstrates the risks of individuals using ketamine at home and alone.
