DEA Strips Matthew Perry Doctors of Prescription Registrations | TMZ Live
The 2 doctors charged with supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine before his death can no longer write prescriptions ... TMZ has learned.
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00:00We have broke a story over the weekend actually, and another one this morning about the doctors involved in Matthew Perry's death.
00:07The two doctors who have been charged by the feds for supplying the ketamine that ended up killing Matthew Perry last year.
00:15And I guess the surprising part, we'll start with that, which is that they are still doctors.
00:20And who knows when that may change, if it changes.
00:24We found that out over the weekend, but the DEA stepped in where the medical board did not and decided to make sure that these two men in particular,
00:35Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Placencia, can no longer write prescriptions.
00:41And for one of them, this was part of a plea deal, and that would be Mark Chavez.
00:46So he pled guilty to several charges related to the supplying the ketamine.
00:52And as part of that, volunteered his registration with the DEA.
00:58This is something that all doctors have in order to write prescriptions.
01:01Right. Placencia, for his part, he is indicating that he is going to fight the charges.
01:07Now, ultimately, Charles, he is facing 120 years in a federal penitentiary if he was convicted.
01:14I don't think either of these guys should obviously be allowed to write prescriptions right now, given what they've been accused of.
01:18Which is why we found that the DEA stepped in and did so, made sure that they did not have that registration.
01:24But they are both still doctors.
01:26Yeah, they're both doctors for the time being, because the medical board, which is different, that's what grants you your medical license.
01:31They have said taken a wait and see approach.
01:33We've opened up an investigation. People are innocent until they're proven guilty.
01:37And before they're going to take away someone's livelihood, their ability to practice medicine, they're going to do their own investigation before they revoke or suspend those licenses.
01:44But the DEA stepped in because there's a public health concern here with distributing ketamine.
01:48And they can do that. They have jurisdiction because these drugs cross state lines.
01:52There's a federal matter involved.
01:53And so they've gone ahead and said no registration, no writing scripts for these two doctors, even on just the allegations.
01:59It would be egregious to me if they were able to write prescriptions, even the fact that they can still see patients, theoretically.
02:04Yeah. I mean, I think what's what is concerning to people when they hear that, that they can still see patients, that they are still doctors.
02:12Is the fact that at least the allegations as laid out by the U.S. attorney last week are so callous.
02:19You know, Dr. Placentia is the one, according to the feds, he's the one who wrote in a text message to Dr. Chavez said, let's see how much this moron will pay, referring to Matthew Perry, how much he will pay for this ketamine.
02:34You know, you take that Hippocratic oath, Charles, and it's like do no harm.
02:39That's the most basic fundamental thing for a doctor.
02:41And to think of these two guys who understood who understand what ketamine can do to you and understand what addiction looks like and how you have no control oftentimes and still allegedly chose to take advantage of of Matthew Perry for financial gain.
02:56It's so gross to me and that bothers me.
02:59Look, it's it's extremely concerning, obviously, that these guys would practice medicine amidst these allegations.
03:04But this is a very high profile case.
03:06So the media has covered them.
03:07You've seen their faces out there.
03:08It's going to be hard for them to practice as doctors because anyone with Google will see their faces pop up in association with the Matthew Perry case.
03:15So some of that takes care of itself.
03:16But you're right. While they have their license, if memories fade about this, they could get out there and practice unless those licenses are taken away.
03:22Yeah, I just don't you know, everyone gets their day in court.
03:27Right. And you also they'll get their day before the medical board.
03:32But, you know, for Dr. Chavez, who's pled guilty, I don't know what he says in front of the medical board to say, keep my license.
03:40I mean, maybe they would suspend it. Right.
03:42But he is likely going to prison for some amount of time, could be up to 10 years under the plea deal that he struck with the federal authorities.
03:51And then, like you said, with Dr. Placentia, who knows what's going to happen.
03:55And if he goes to trial and loses while he's going away for a very, very long time.
04:02Hey, guys, this is Mindy from Pittsburgh.
04:04And I think it's great news that we have two doctors that cannot prescribe medicine anymore.
04:10That was the first step. It's really upsetting to know that they can still practice law.
04:15When we think about it, we have teachers and we have police officers that as soon as they get in trouble, they are suspended without pay.
04:22Why isn't it the same thing for a doctor who has people's lives at stake?
04:27As we can see what happened to Matthew Perry, it could happen again.
04:30Yeah. I mean, that is an interesting thing that and I don't know if the medical board has that as a punishment where you're suspended and you can't see patients, but you still get to hold your license.
04:41It would seem like that's a step they could take here.
04:44Right. I just for say, yeah, I understand. Presumed innocent.
04:47I do think at a certain point the authorities do need to step in if there is a public risk.
04:52And I think obviously here. Yeah.
04:55Show me. Show me. And that's alleged public. That's clearly what the D.A. saw.
05:00Good on them. Yeah. So we'll see what happens with the rest of that moving forward.