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Five people have been charged in connection with the tragic death of Matthew Perry from a ketamine overdose last year. Three have now plead guilty, one of them is a doctor. Four of the people in custody include the actor’s former assistant, a drug-dealing acquaintance, and two doctors. The fifth person is Jasveen Sangha, the “Ketamine Queen” of Los Angeles. As a notorious drug dealer in Los Angeles County, she allegedly operated a stash house in North Hollywood.

As U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said while announcing the charges, “These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong.” Indeed, the five defendants, including two doctors, allegedly took part in supplying Perry with massive amounts of ketamine. According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner, a ketamine overdose led to Perry’s untimely passing.

Violation of The Hippocratic Oath

What is most awful is the violation of the Hippocratic Oath for profit by the doctor who has plead guilty. Above all, the purview of a doctor is to do no harm. From the perspective of Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC), such criminal actions by medical professionals are a priority to highlight. Indeed, according to law enforcement, the alleged focus of the defendants was making as much profit as possible from the actor’s ongoing addiction.

Before delving into the issue, the Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethics for physicians. Written in Ionic Greek between the fifth and third centuries BC, the original oath is traditionally attributed to the Greek doctor Hippocrates. In its original form, the oath requires a new physician to swear to uphold specific ethical standards.

The earliest expression of medical ethics in the Western world, the oath is famous for establishing several principles of medical ethics that remain of paramount significance today. In the tragic death of Matthew Perry, non-maleficence is the most crucial principle to consider. As part of a legal statute, violations of the Hippocratic Oath often carry criminal or other liability.

The Death of Matthew Perry – Not An Exception

According to the criminal indictment, the defendants in the case took advantage of Matthew Perry as he sunk deeper into his addictive persona. As a provider of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, TTC understands the vulnerabilities of people in active addiction. Indeed, in active addiction, an individual is intensely vulnerable. Moreover, the family is susceptible to exploitation as well.

Thus, when medical providers prey on vulnerable patients with substance use disorders, it is nothing less than a crime. Sadly, the death of Matthew Perry is not an exception. Such actions are now happening across the nation. As families desperately try to help their loved ones, unscrupulous doctors often take advantage. When doctors prey on desperate patients, they are violating their Hippocratic Oath. Rather than focusing on doing no harm and providing medical care, their greed dominates their actions.

Above all else, TTC focuses on helping patients and saving lives. From substance use disorder treatment to primary care services, the medical professionals on staff understand the number one priority. Indeed, the patient comes first before all else.

From TTC’s perspective, any doctor treating a patient in such a manner is committing a criminal act. Nationwide, too many doctors are taking advantage of patients in their times of greatest need. Indeed, the tragic death of Matthew Perry did not have to happen. In contrast, the TTC program is patient-centered with a focus on integrated services that meet the needs of the individual. Above all else, we believe in recovery and saving lives.

Learning from the Death of Matthew Perry

If you or a loved one is struggling and needs quality healthcare services, please do not hesitate to act. If you take the first step, there is help that leads to long-term recovery. Indeed, we can learn a valuable lesson from the tragic death of Matthew Perry. Thus, quality medical care is a top priority.

Please contact Tarzana Treatment Centers and access our integrative care and recovery services.