EntertainmentA doctor sentenced to 30 months in prison for selling ketamine to Matthew Perry is appealing his sentence, arguing he was operating as a drug dealer — not a physician — when he sold the drug to the late star of Friends.Lawyers claim his profession unfairly led to harsher punishmentKayla McLean · CBC News · Posted: Jun 10, 2026 2:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Dr. Salvador Plasencia, left, is appealing his 30-month sentence for his role in the ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, on the grounds that he was 'nothing more than a drug dealer.' (Damian Dovarganes, Rich Fury/Invision/AP)A doctor sentenced to 30 months in prison for selling ketamine to Matthew Perry is appealing his sentence, arguing he was operating as a drug dealer — not a physician — when he sold the drug to the late star of Friends. According to a defence brief obtained by CBC News, lawyers for 44-year-old Dr. Salvador Plasencia argued he unfairly received a harsher sentence than fellow defendants Mark Chavez and Erik Fleming. They claim Plasencia was "punished more severely on account of his professional status even though he did not abuse his position of trust or use a special skill," when selling ketamine to Perry.The brief argues that Plasencia, who was sentenced on Dec. 3 after pleading guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution, was "not acting as a physician.""Instead, he was nothing more than a drug dealer, similar to the role played by defendants Chavez and Flemming."Perry saw Plasencia "for what he was in this case, namely, a drug dealer who happened to have an 'M.D.' after his name,” the brief states. "There was no fiduciary relationship in existence and Perry did not grant appellant any discretion as a treating physician."Friends actor Matthew Perry dead at 54Addiction recovery hub to go forward without Matthew Perry's nameIn the brief, Plasencia’s lawyers acknowledge that medical doctors hold positions of trust and possess specialized skills, but argue that "these attributes must be shown to have 'contributed in some significant way,'" to the offence, a standard they say does not apply in this case.They call the ruling judge's emphasis on Plasencia's status as a physician "misguided," arguing that his credentials "were not integral to the commission of the drug crimes."The 54-year-old actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends was found dead in the hot tub of the home he shared with his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, in October 2023, after suffering a fatal ketamine overdose. According to court filings, Iwamasa purchased the drugs and administered some of the injections, with Perry reportedly telling him to "shoot me up with a big one" the day that he died. Court documents reveal that Plasencia admitted to distributing the vials of ketamine to Perry and Iwamasa in the days prior to the actor's death. Before one meeting with Perry on Sept. 30, 2023, Plasencia texted Chavez, who had agreed to obtain the ketamine, writing, "I wonder how much this moron will pay."WATCH | Perry 'wanted to live,' manager says:Matthew Perry 'wanted to live,' manager says after assistant sentencedMay 27|Duration 1:20Matthew Perry's live-in personal assistant was sentenced Wednesday to three years and five months in prison in connection with his death from a ketamine overdose in 2023. Outside the courthouse, Kenneth Iwamasa's attorney said his client was the victim of an imbalanced power dynamic, while Perry's manager said the actor 'wanted to live.'ABOUT THE AUTHORKayla McLean is a web journalist with CBC News in Toronto. She grew up in Brampton, Ont., and received her bachelor of arts in media production at Toronto Metropolitan University. Before joining CBC in 2024, she worked as a breaking news reporter at Global News Toronto — covering everything from crime, sports, festivals and politics. She also reported for Global News's current affairs show, The New Reality, covering stories with a focus on racial equality and climate justice. She also previously held positions as a chase producer and writer for CTV News Channel.With files from The Associated Press