Matthew Perry: The Fine Line Between Doctors and Drug Dealers in Hollywood

“I loved the way I dedicated my services to her,” wrote Dr. Conrad Murray, speaking of his “most noble” patient. “It was totally selfless because when I agreed to serve her, I literally had no idea that she was then widely known.” That patient, in Murray’s account, is none other than the world-renowned nun, now a saint: Mother Teresa.

Dr. Murray, who recently opened his new medical institute, is more famous for his involvement with Michael Jackson. Jackson died after Murray administered general anesthesia to help him sleep, leading to Murray serving jail time for involuntary manslaughter. Murray later recounted his experience, including treating Mother Teresa, in a self-serving book.

It’s hard not to recall Murray’s actions when thinking about the tragic details of Matthew Perry’s death. The Friends actor was found dead in his hot tub last year, prompting a police investigation. Among those charged are his long-term assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and two medical doctors. They are accused of selling Perry off-label drugs while mocking him. “I wonder how much this moron will pay?” wrote Dr. Salvador Plasencia to another doctor, Mark Chavez.

Plasencia expressed a desire to be Perry’s “go-to for drugs”. Perry reportedly spent $55,000 on ketamine in the month before his death, far more than its actual worth. Plasencia taught Iwamasa to administer ketamine and even injected Perry himself, once causing him to “freeze up”. “Let’s not do that again,” he told Iwamasa lightly.

When Perry died, one of the accused acted to cover up their actions. “I’m 90% sure everyone is protected,” one wrote. “I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.” It’s a shocking indictment of the betrayal by the professionals surrounding the actor.

Addiction can be complex, and some enablers face minimal judgment. But doctors should always hold themselves to higher standards than drug dealers. Consider the case of Katie Price, who recently returned from Turkey after her 17th boob job and sixth facelift. She was arrested for skipping a bankruptcy hearing to undergo surgery.

This pattern of predatory behavior by yes-men is not new and extends well beyond Hollywood. Even at their best, stars often have a support system that can turn parasitic. The most dangerous scenario is when no one can say no, creating a perilous power dynamic.

One might find some understanding for Perry’s assistant, whose identity might have been overshadowed by his employer’s. But there’s no excuse for the medical professionals who allegedly broke their oaths for personal gain.

Bent doctors often seek both money and power. Making a godlike celebrity dependent on them feeds their ego. It’s a power trip to have a revered figure at their weakest, begging for what they want. This was evident in Murray’s trial, where the prosecutor described his practice as “a cycle of horrible medicine”. Murray even recorded his client at his lowest moments.

In many cases, the supposedly powerful person becomes a mere host organism and moneymaker. Middle-Eastern princes are kept alive beyond decency to keep their entourages funded. Jackson hired Murray to cope with a demanding concert schedule. After his death, some observed he was worth more dead. Price’s surgeries convert into documentaries and staged paparazzi shots, funding her lifestyle while taking a psychological toll.

Perry spent much of his final days hiding his addiction, aware that many depended on the belief he had recovered. “When I die,” he once said, “I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.” Currently, that seems heartbreakingly optimistic. For now, the story is one of others cashing in. Physician, help thyself.