Matthew Perry’s ex-girlfriend has called for an investigation into his doctors and “isn’t surprised” by ketamine being involved in the Friends star’s death.
Chandler Bing actor Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub in October, with his cause of death deferred – but now a coroner has ruled that the “acute effects” of ketamine use killed the star. He underwent ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety a week and a half before his death at 54, on October 28th.
However, the drugs found in his system were deemed to have been from elsewhere – with his ex partner Kayti Edwards claiming it’s most likely he got it from a doctor or nurse afterwards. She told The US Sun: “I’m pretty sure that in Matthew’s brain ketamine infusions at a doctor’s would count as still being sober.
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“In his brain it’s not the same as going on the street to buy crack or heroin. That probably was the stepping stone for him to go back to doing drugs.”
(Image: Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
She now wants the doctors investigating, as it’s “very hard to get ketamine on the street” but “very easy for a doctor or nurse to get”. Kayti claims the cause of Matthew’s death “wasn’t shocking” as she recognised the “patterns” leading up to his death.
She added: “I could see it from a mile away, he didn’t seem right during the last couple weeks of his life. The sober people who knew him have never hung out with him when he was getting high so they wouldn’t know the signs.”
However, Matthew’s Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston claimed he was in a “good place” the day he died, as the pair were exchanging texts. Jennifer said: “I was literally texting with him that morning, funny Matty.
(Image: InTouch Weekly/Youtube)
“He was not in pain. He wasn’t struggling. He was happy. I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy. He worked so hard. He really was dealt a tough one. I miss him dearly. We all do. Boy, he made us laugh really hard.”
In the official autopsy report, senior deputy medical examiner, Dr Raffi Djabourian, wrote: “Matthew Perry’s cause of death is determined to be from the acute effects of ketamine. Contributory factors include drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects (an opioid).
“The manner of death is accident (drug and drowning related). No signs of foul play are suspected. At the high levels of ketamine found in his post-mortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. Drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness.”
(Image: zz/NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx)
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Matthew was prescribed the drug Mounjaro to help with weight loss, as well as testosterone injections – which an unnamed female associate claimed made him “angry and mean” for his final couple of weeks. She also claimed Matthew had changed doctors in recent weeks.
He underwent therapy twice a week for 30 years and attended more than 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He was in rehab 15 separate times and spent more than £7million on treatment to fight addiction.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Alcoholics Anonymous for free support on 0800 9177 650 or email help@aamail.org
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
