“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.

India recorded 20,138 organ transplants in 2025, the highest ever in a single year, while deceased donor transplants increased to 3,526, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel announced at the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD).

The Minister said India now ranks third globally in total organ transplants, after the United States and China.

Organ Transplants Hit Record High

Patel said the number of organ transplants increased from 4,990 in 2013 to 20,138 in 2025, marking the country's highest annual total.

She also highlighted the rise in deceased donor transplants, which increased from 837 in 2013 to 3,526 in 2025.

However, she noted that a significant gap remains between the demand for organs and their availability, adding that bridging this gap continues to be a national priority.

'Organ Donation Is the Highest Expression of Compassion'

Describing the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day as a celebration of service and humanity, Patel said organ donation offers a second chance at life for people with end-stage organ failure.

She expressed gratitude to the families of deceased organ donors, saying their selfless decisions have strengthened India's organ donation movement.

The Minister also announced that the country has crossed five lakh Aadhaar-verified organ donation pledges

since the launch of the national digital pledge portal in 2023.

Patel said misconceptions remain one of the biggest challenges to organ donation. She stressed that no major religion prohibits organ donation and that all faiths uphold the values of compassion, service and saving lives, making organ donation a noble humanitarian act.

New Campaign and Digital Initiatives Launched

The national event, organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) in New Delhi, witnessed the launch of 'Jug Jug Jiyo Abhiyaan', a year-long nationwide awareness campaign aimed at taking the message of organ donation to every community and reinforcing that organ donation is the greatest gift of life.

The Minister also launched 'e-Pratyaropan, a unified digital platform that integrates hospitals, doctors, donors, recipients and other stakeholders into a single system. The platform brings together registration, wait-list management, organ allocation, monitoring and public information services.

A new NOTTO Mobile Application was also launched to improve access to organ donation and transplantation-related services and information.

New National Guidelines Released

The National Brain Stem Death Certification Guidelines and the National Guidelines on Swap Transplantation were also released.

The guidelines provide a practical framework for transplant professionals and support States and Union Territories in implementing a robust, ethical and efficient organ donation and transplantation programme. They are expected to strengthen the national transplantation ecosystem and facilitate wider access to safe, equitable and high-quality transplantation services across the country.

Government Strengthening Organ Donation Network

Patel said the government has established a nationwide institutional network comprising:

• National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO)
• Five Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs)
• 26 State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs)
• around 1,200 registered hospitals

The United States has reported 53 new measles cases, bringing the 2026 total to 2,371, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Amid the rising outbreak, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged American parents to vaccinate their children against the highly contagious disease.

The CDC said that of the 53 new cases, 16 were locally acquired across 45 US jurisdictions, while the remaining cases were linked to international travel.

Highest Measles Toll In 35 Years

Although measles is preventable through vaccination, the 2,371 cases reported as of July 30 have already surpassed the 2,289 cases recorded during all of 2025. Both years represent the highest annual measles totals in the US since 1991.

The US was declared measles-free in 2000, but it could lose that status later this year when the Pan American Health Organization reviews transmission data.

Also read: Donald Trump Urges RFK Jr. To Accelerate Childhood Vaccine Rollback

Measles by the numbers:

• 2,371 measles cases reported in 2026.
• 20% of cases are in children under 5; 49% are in those 5–19 years.
• 7% of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025.
• No deaths have been reported.
• 93% of cases are in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

Current measles hotspots:

• Pennsylvania: 31 new cases in the past week; 167 total cases in 2026.
• Ohio: Four new cases in unvaccinated individuals in Ashtabula and Tuscarawas counties; the state's third measles outbreak of 2026.
• Utah: Largest active outbreak with 514 cases; no new cases reported this week.
• Arizona: One new case; 120 total cases in 2026.
• Washington: Seven new cases; 53 total cases in 2026.

Kennedy Urges Parents to Vaccinate Children

Read More: UK Woman Becomes World-First To Receive Experimental Cell Therapy For Ovarian Cancer

In a notable shift, Kennedy urged American parents to vaccinate their children against measles during a CNN interview.

Long known as a vaccine skeptic, Kennedy has spent years amplifying misinformation about vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. His remarks came as US measles cases surpassed the 2025 annual total.

The past two years have seen more measles infections in the US than the rest of the 21st century combined. More than 90% of cases have occurred in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

"I've never questioned the efficacy of the MMR vaccine," the Healthy Secretary said.

Kennedy also blamed low vaccination rates in some religious communities for ongoing outbreaks.

"The communities that are suffering from measles are almost all religious communities that just don't vaccinate," Kennedy told CNN.

Kennedy Repeats Debunked Vaccine Claims

During the interview, Kennedy also blamed pandemic lockdowns on Dr. Anthony Fauci while repeating several widely debunked claims about vaccines and other health issues.

He claimed that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant mortality, suggested Lyme disease was caused by laboratory manipulation of germs, repeated unsupported claims linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, and questioned the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for children.

Large studies conducted over several decades in multiple countries have consistently found no evidence that routine childhood vaccines cause autism.

Major medical associations also continue to consider acetaminophen the preferred pain reliever and fever reducer during pregnancy when used appropriately. They have also cautioned against avoiding acetaminophen altogether, noting that untreated high fever or severe pain during pregnancy can pose risks to both the mother and the developing baby.

Speaking to CNN, Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under President Joe Biden, said the rise in measles cases was not coincidental.

"The administration has not done enough to promote vaccines. It has not done enough to highlight the harms that come from measles."

Jha added that "accountability has to be with our political leaders," while criticizing Kennedy's false claims about vaccines.

A 58-year-old woman in the UK has become the first person in the world to receive an experimental cell therapy for ovarian cancer.

Tracy Tomlinson, who has been living with advanced ovarian cancer for more than five years, received the first dose of ZI-MA4-1 at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust as part of the ZIMA-101 clinical trial. The study is evaluating ZI-MA4-1, the world's first MAGE-A4-targeting TCR-NK cell therapy to enter clinical development.

"While this is an early-stage study primarily focused on safety, it represents an exciting step forward in efforts to develop new treatment options for people like Tracy with advanced solid tumors. We hope the knowledge gained will help shape future cancer treatments and ultimately improve outcomes for patients," said Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite, consultant medical oncologist at The Christie.

Tracy's Journey With Ovarian Cancer

Tracy, from Chadderton in Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer shortly before Christmas 2020.

She first suspected something was wrong when what she thought was a urinary tract infection did not improve despite antibiotics prescribed by her GP. After blood tests, scans and further investigations, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just two days before her birthday.

Over the next several years, Tracy underwent surgery, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and maintenance therapy. By the summer of 2021, scans showed no evidence of disease, but the cancer returned a year later. She underwent further surgery and treatment, followed by additional recurrences.

Since 2023, Tracy has been living with ongoing cancer while receiving additional lines of treatment.

"The cancer is relentless," she said. "For me, it's never seemed to leave me alone."

Treatment has also caused fatigue, nausea and nerve damage in her hands and feet, eventually forcing her to stop working as a credit controller.

As her treatment options became more limited, Tracy began exploring clinical trials. Last year, she was referred to The Christie's early-phase clinical trials team and was eventually found eligible for the ZIMA-101 study.

After extensive screening, including scans, biopsies and blood tests, she became the first patient in the world to receive ZI-MA4-1.

"I decided almost straight away that I was going to go for it," she said. "Then afterwards you think, 'Am I doing the right thing?' because it is a little bit scary being the first person."

Following her first dose, Tracy remained in hospital for planned monitoring before being discharged on July 23.

"There are no guarantees with any trial," she said. "It could have a fantastic outcome, it could have no outcome, or somewhere in between. But if there is a possibility that it could work, I've got to go for it."

She added, "Cancer is no longer a death sentence. Five years ago, I thought I was going to die, but I'm still here."

What Is ZI-MA4-1 Cell Therapy?

Developed by Zelluna, ZI-MA4-1 combines two immune-based approaches to target cancer. The therapy uses natural killer (NK) cells, which can detect and destroy abnormal cells, together with engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) that enable them to recognize tumors expressing the protein MAGE-A4.

MAGE-A4 is found in several solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, making it a promising target for precision cancer therapies.

Unlike personalized cell therapies that require a patient's own cells to be collected and manufactured individually, ZI-MA4-1 uses donor-derived immune cells and is designed as an "off-the-shelf" treatment.

Researchers hope this approach could make advanced cell therapies available to more patients in less time.