“I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

This is what ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing was known for. He was known for being funny. However, he had his own struggles in his personal life and those struggles were acute depression. He was treating it with ketamine infusion therapy which is legal in the US and the UK.

What is Ketamine infusion therapy?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used to treat depression, anxiety and pain under supervised and controlled medical settings. However, it does have its side effects, which can lead to distortion of sight, sound and time. It can also produce calming and relaxing effects.

Ketamine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If overdosed, it can leave users confused and agitated and can cause them to hurt themselves without even realising it. It can also lead to liver damage and bladder problems.

However, when used in moderation and under the supervision of medical doctors, it can treat depression where traditional antidepressants have failed.

Prof Rupert McShane, a University of Oxford psychiatrist who runs an NHS ketamine treatment clinic told BBC that ketamine “probably turns off the area of the brain that is involved in disappointment.”

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Kill Someone?

In simple terms, it cannot, be if the dosage is given in a controlled setting and as prescribed. Ketamine infusion therapy uses drugs in small doses than those used for anaesthesia. It acts faster than traditional anti-depressants, but the effects also wear off way quickly. Which is why it is important to monitor patients’ mental state for relapsing back into depression and discouraging them from overdosing on it.

There are ways of giving people ketamine. One of the ways is through “infusing”, which means to use an IV drip. However, injections, nasal sprays and capsules are also methods used to give people ketamine.

Since the dosage of ketamine used in the infusion treatment is small, it being the reason of actor Perry’s death was ruled out. The medical examiner also noted that Perry’s last ketamine infusion therapy session happened more than a week before his death, which means by the time he had died, it must have worn off.

So, What Happened To Perry?

Though Perry’s last session was more than a week before, his post-mortem showed that his blood contained a high concentration of ketamine. He had died of the “acute effects” of ketamine.

If it was not his session, then how did he get ketamine?

Prosecutors alleged that his assistant gave him at least 27 shots of ketamine in four days before his death, reported BBC.

Perry has been open about his personal struggles and this is what the doctors and dealers used against him. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District told the BBC that people took advantage of his condition. They charged him 165 times more than what vials of ketamine cost.

Names that have come up include Dr Salvador Plasencia, drug dealers “Ketamine Queen” aka Jasveen Sangha and Eric Fleming, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.

Who Are These Names And What Did They Do?

Ketamine Queen or Sangha supplied drugs that led to Perry’s death. Her home was a “drug-selling emporium,” said Estrada. More than 80 vials of ketamine, and thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found in her house known as the “Sangha Stash House.”

Sangha is known to deal with high-end celebs and was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry,” said Estrada.

Dr Plasencia called Perry a “moron” while charging him $2,000 for vials that cost only $12. He sold Perry 20 vials of ketamine between September and October 2023, costing $55,000.

He was the one who taught Iwamasa, who had no medical knowledge to inject the drug. This is after he knew that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control,” as per what the investigators told the BBC.

Another dealer Fleming was told by Sangha to “delete all our messages.” While Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drugs unlawfully, he also allegedly messaged Sangha: “Please call...Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.”

The court documents also revealed that he asked Sangha on whether the ketamine stays in your system or “is it immediately flushed out.”

Dr Pepper, Bots, Cans

The people who allegedly exploited Perry used coded language for ketamine and called it “Dr Pepper”, “bots”, or “cans.”

Selling overpriced drugs, taking advantage of Perry’s mental condition and falsifying medical records to make the drugs given to him look legitimate by Dr Plasencia is what took Perry’s life.

Iwamasa is said to have administered more than 20 shots of ketamine and three on the day Perry died. Whereas ketamine is only administered by a physician. Authorities also found that weeks before Perry’s death, Dr Plasencia allegedly bought 10 vials of ketamine and intended to sell to Perry.

He also injected Perry with a large dose, two days later. This caused him to “freeze up” and spiked his blood pressure.

When I Die, I Want Helping Others To Be The First Thing That’s Mentioned

Perry had always been open about his drug addictions, struggles with alcohol and his depression. He said that his openness would help others who are also struggling and wanted to be remembered by his quote which also is on the homepage of the Mattew Perry Foundation that helps others struggling with the disease of addiction: “When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”

Five arrests have been made in the case so far.

Meningitis – the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining – has claimed 259,000 lives worldwide in 2023, according to a new study, published in The Lancet Neurology.

A total of 2.5 million people globally were infected with meningitis, which is also the leading infectious cause of neurological disabilities.

Importantly, children accounted for a third of the deaths, many of which were in Africa, according to research that described itself as the most comprehensive global assessment of meningitis yet.

The study comes amidst a “unprecedented” meningitis outbreak in the UK’s Kent, where two people died, and many were infected.

Meningitis: Achieving WHO 2030 goals

According to the study, global vaccination campaigns since 2000, played a significant role in reducing the number of infections and deaths by bacterial meningitis, in both high-income and low-income countries.

The Global Burden of Disease study led by an international team of researchers led by those from the University of Washington, showed that although mortality and incidence have declined significantly since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet the WHO 2030 targets.

The WHO targets a 50 percent reduction in meningitis infections and 70 percent reduction in deaths by 2030. However, a substantial meningitis burden persists. It also lags behind other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The driving factor are:

• common pathogens such as S pneumoniae and N meningitidis
• emerging non-bacterial pathogens such as Candida spp
• drug-resistant fungi.

Also read: Bacterial Meningitis May Cause Long-term Fatigue, Vision Problems, Raise Suicide Risk: Study

What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis is a serious medical condition that affects the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, the meninges. While fever is not always present, it is usually considered as one of the classic symptoms of meningitis.

It is important to know the varied symptoms, causes, and treatments of meningitis for early diagnosis and proper management of the disease.

Meningitis is an infectious illness that brings about inflammation in the meninges. The most common cause of such inflammation is bacterial or viral infections, though other causes are also possible including fungal, parasitic, or non-infectious causes (autoimmune disease, head injury, or brain surgery).

Meningitis may also be caused by bacterial meningitis, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates can be so severe and bring about conditions like hearing loss, vision problems, and death if not received on time.

Also read: From Vaping to Worm Attack: 5 Unimaginable Ways to Contract Meningitis

Meningitis: Risk factors

As per the Lancet study, the greatest risk factors for deaths was

• low birthweight
• premature birth
• air pollution (both household and atmospheric).

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, non-polio enteroviruses, and other viruses were the leading causes of death, while non-polio enteroviruses caused the most cases.

To achieve further reductions in the disease globally, the researchers called for greater efforts, including:

• expanding vaccination programs,
• greater antibiotic stewardship,
• improving access to care,
• strengthening diagnostics and monitoring for meningitis.

Also read: Unique Symptoms Of Meningitis That Caused An Outbreak In Kent University

Common Symptoms Of Meningitis

• Rash
• Headaches
• Neck stiffness
• Fever
• Drowsiness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Increased sensitivity to light.

World Doctors’ Day is celebrated every year on March 30 to honor physicians for their dedication and compassion in saving lives and ensuring healthy communities.

Doctors are often regarded as God as they work tirelessly to save lives, even amidst conflicts or pandemics, without counting their own lives.

Often referred to as a noble profession, their mission transcends boundaries and also showcases profound human values rooted in compassion, dedication, and responsibility.

They play a significant role in building resilient, healthy societies and the world.

While there is no universally declared theme to mark the day, several campaigns are held focusing on the well-being and resilience of doctors, especially in the post-pandemic era.

World Doctors’ Day: History

World Doctors’ Day is the same as US National Doctors Day.

It was first observed in 1933 in Georgia and officially recognized in 1990 when George H. W. Bush signed it into law.

The first Doctors' Day was initiated by Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, and was adopted by the Barrow County Alliance.

The day was also observed to mark the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery by Dr. Crawford W. Long in Jefferson, Georgia, in 1842.

The idea was then presented to the Georgia State Medical Alliance in 1933 by E. R. Harris of Winder, president of the Barrow County Alliance.

On May 10, 1934, the resolution was adopted at the annual state meeting in Augusta, Georgia.

Later, it was resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the US in Congress to designate March 30 as “National Doctors’ Day.”

The symbol for Doctors' Day is often the red carnation, chosen for its color that represents love, charity, and sacrifice — that highlights the profession.

The US reportedly has over 985,000 to 1 million practicing physicians.

World Doctors’ Day: Significance:

The day honors physicians' commitment, service, and contributions to healthcare, often highlighting their role in patient care. Their role is also in medical innovations that have given life to people across the globe.

It also highlights challenges faced by the physician community, like burnout, workforce shortages, and rising health demands.

Doctors are also overburdened with increasing patient load and staff shortages. Some also face workplace violence and safety concerns.

Notably, digital healthcare and evolving technologies have also added pressures and an additional burden to their practice.

Countries Celebrating World Doctors’ Day

World Doctors’ Day is celebrated on March 30 in the US, the UAE, and Australia.

India celebrates National Doctors’ Day on July 1, commemorating the birth and death anniversary of renowned physician Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

China has become the world’s first country to approve a monoclonal antibody drug called Libevitug to treat hepatitis D — a severe, chronic liver disease.

The drug, which was rolled out at a Beijing hospital recently, was granted conditional approval by China's National Medical Products Administration in January 2026 following priority review, Science and Technology Daily reported.

Libevitug is a monoclonal antibody developed by a team from Tsinghua University and the Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Huahui Health.

It works by blocking hepatitis B and D viruses from entering liver cells.

Clinical trials on Libevitug demonstrated significant efficacy in virological response and normalization of liver function, with particularly notable benefits for patients with cirrhosis.

What Is Hepatitis D? What Are The Key Symptoms?

Hepatitis D, or HDV, is different from the others—it can't infect the liver by itself. It only exists in those already infected with hepatitis B, employing the outer shell of the HBV virus to replicate.

When HBV and HDV infect the liver concurrently (a co-infection) or if HDV is contracted later on superimposition of pre-existing HBV (a superinfection), the immune system is twice assaulted. The liver has to cope with more intense inflammation, resulting in more rapid fibrosis progression and a much increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

In individuals with co-infection, liver injury is more severe, and complications arise years sooner than in HBV mono-infection. There are no specific therapies for HDV currently, and its management relies mostly on the control of hepatitis B.

It is also possible to prevent HBV infection and thereby hepatitis D by vaccination. Antiviral therapy and close follow-up can likewise decrease the chances of serious HDV complications in those already infected with HBV.

Simultaneous infection with HBV and HDV can lead to mild-to-severe hepatitis, with signs and symptoms typically appearing 3–7 weeks after initial infection and include:

• fever,
• fatigue,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dark urine,
• pale-colored stools,
• jaundice (yellow eyes)
• fulminant hepatitis.

Also read: Hepatitis On Rise In India: What Is Causing It?

How Does Libevitug Work?

Of the over 254 million chronic hepatitis B carriers worldwide, approximately 5 percent are co-infected with the hepatitis D virus, and patients with co-infection have long lacked effective targeted therapies.

Clinical trials for the drug began in 2018, with an international multi-center study launched in 2023 among patients with chronic co-infection.

The drug previously received "Breakthrough Therapy Designation" from both the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China NMPA and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Also read: Hepatitis A To E: How Each Virus Affects Your Liver?

"Libevitug demonstrates outstanding clinical efficacy and significantly improves liver stiffness, with particularly remarkable efficacy in patients with HBV/HDV-related cirrhosis," stated Professor Niu Junqi, principal investigator of the Libevitug trial from the First Hospital of Jilin University.

"This drug aligns with the core objectives of China's Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis (2025–2030), which aims to improve diagnosis and treatment rates for viral hepatitis and reduce the incidence of liver cancer and mortality," Junqi added.

Junqi noted that Libevitug is expected to effectively lower the risk of disease progression to advanced severe diseases such as liver cancer, drive the diagnosis and treatment of HDV in China, as well as advance the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030.