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Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the two doctors charged in Matthew Perry’s death, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute ketamine in a federal court on Wednesday, October 2, in Los Angeles.
Some fans expressed their disapproval of the doctor’s actions on social media. One fan said on Reddit, “Hope this doctor is sent to jail. A doctor shouldn’t be supplying this stuff to their patients.” A second said, “Doctors that treat celebrities often get corrupted by that relationship,” and a third added, “It’s tragic how greed and negligence from trusted professionals played such a direct role in Matthew Perry’s death. These doctors completely betrayed their oath.” One fan even went as far as to say, “And he calls himself a doctor — if it wasn’t for him, Matthew would still be alive today.”
Other fan reactions centered around Perry and his death. One fan on TikTok said, “So sad, Matthew Perry was a great actor, a troubled soul. RIP,” while another admitted, “I haven’t watched any shows with our dear Matthew in them since he passed. It’s too hard ❤️.” A fan even said, “This is heart-shattering. He should still be here 😭.”
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Perry’s death came as an unexpected shock to fans and friends of the actor in late October 2023. Initial reports stated that the Friends star, who was 54 at the time, was found unresponsive in his home in Los Angeles, and it appeared that he had drowned in a hot tub.
Investigators later discovered that Perry’s death was caused by the intense effects of ketamine, though no drugs were found on the scene. The doctor’s plea comes almost a year after the actor’s death.
Chavez, 54, could still face up to 10 years in prison and is currently free on bond after surrendering his passport and medical license. The court is set to determine his sentence on April 2, 2025.
