A Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday delivered a verdict that will reverberate across the Atlantic. Kenneth Iwamasa, the personal assistant to actor Matthew Perry, was sentenced to six months of house arrest for his role in obtaining the ketamine that led to the actor’s death in October 2023. The case, which has exposed the shadowy network of medical professionals and enablers supplying the drug, has renewed debate about the adequacy of drug-death laws in the United Kingdom.
Iwamasa, 59, pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Prosecutors said he injected Perry multiple times on the day of the actor’s fatal overdose. The sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release, reflects Iwamasa’s cooperation with investigators. Two doctors and a dealer known as the “Queen of Ketamine” have also been charged in connection with the case.
The Perry case illustrates a legal landscape in which assistants and associates may face criminal liability for facilitating drug use. In the United Kingdom, the laws governing drug-induced death are less clear. The Offences Against the Person Act 1861, which criminalises manslaughter, can apply in cases where someone supplies drugs that lead to death. But convictions are rare, and sentences vary widely. A 2021 review by the Law Commission noted that the law is “inconsistent and unclear” in this area.
Legal experts say the Perry case could prompt a reassessment. “When a celebrity dies in such circumstances, there is a public demand for accountability,” said Professor Fiona Measham, a criminologist at the University of Liverpool. “But the UK approach has been to focus on the dealers, not the users or their enablers.” The Crown Prosecution Service has brought manslaughter charges in cases like the 2017 death of a 22-year-old student who took MDMA supplied by a friend, but such cases are exceptional.
The scrutiny is timely. In 2023, there were 4,907 drug-related deaths in England and Wales, the highest number on record. Ketamine fatalities, while still a fraction of opioid-related deaths, are rising. The National Crime Agency has warned that the drug’s availability has increased due to illicit manufacturing and online sales.
Perry’s death has also highlighted the role of medical professionals. The two doctors charged in the case are accused of writing fraudulent prescriptions. In the UK, the General Medical Council regulates doctors, but critics say it often fails to act quickly when prescribers are flagged. The case has sparked calls for a more robust system of oversight.
However, any change to the law remains uncertain. The government has focused on the supply chain, with the Home Office’s 10-year drug strategy prioritising the disruption of trafficking networks. Campaigners argue that more attention should be paid to the individuals who enable drug use in private settings.
As the Iwamasa case concludes, the legal community watches for signs of a shift. “The US system is more punitive in these cases,” said Dr. Toby Seddon, a professor of criminology at the University of Bristol. “But if the public mood turns, we could see a change here too.” For now, the Perry case stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of complicity in drug-related death.
