“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.

Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Amravati District Women’s Hospital in Maharashtra early Monday, August 24.

The fire reportedly began around 3:15-3:30 am after a ventilator sparked or exploded, although the exact cause is yet to be known. The three infants died after suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation.

Around 39 newborns were receiving treatment in the NICU at the time. Doctors and other hospital staff rushed to evacuate the babies. Six critical infants were shifted to a nearby super-speciality hospital.

The incident has highlighted one of the most difficult challenges during a NICU fire, i.e., moving critically ill newborns without interrupting the life support they depend on.

Newborns On Ventilators Cannot Simply Be Evacuated

For a critically ill newborn, a ventilator may be continuously delivering carefully controlled oxygen and pressure to keep the lungs functioning.

Disconnecting the baby from the ventilator, even temporarily, can cause oxygen levels to fall rapidly, particularly in premature babies or those with severe respiratory distress. A baby may also be connected to several other devices at the same time, including:

• Intravenous lines delivering medicines or fluids
• Cardiac and oxygen monitors
• Feeding tubes
• Central or arterial lines
• Other respiratory-support equipment

Also read: Lindsay Clancy Trial: What Postpartum Psychosis Really Looks Like, From A Survivor

Babies On Ventilator Need Portable Life Support

In an emergency like fire, there may not be enough time or equipment to transfer every baby individually to a transport incubator. That creates a difficult balance between maintaining life support and getting the baby away from smoke, heat and flames as quickly as possible.

When a critically ill newborn has to be moved, medical teams may need to use transport ventilators or other portable equipment that supports respiration. Transport incubators may also provide a controlled environment while allowing a newborn to remain connected to essential monitoring and respiratory support.

Also read: New Mothers Are Turning To AI For Breastfeeding Advice; Experts Warn Of Hidden Risks

Smoke Is A Major Threat Inside A NICU

NICUs also contain multiple electrical devices and medical equipment operating continuously. Oxygenated environments can further fuel the severity of a fire, although oxygen itself does not burn.

Officials have ordered an investigation into the incident to establish exactly how the fire began and whether equipment failure or another factor was responsible. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high-level inquiry. The tragedy comes amid renewed concerns about fire safety in neonatal units, where patients are among the most vulnerable in a hospital.

The incident demonstrates why NICU fire preparedness needs to account for patients who cannot walk, be carried normally or simply disconnected from machines and rushed outside.

Sunlight brings energy, positivity and vitamin D, but not for two-year-old Mollie Murray from Scotland, who has a rare genetic disorder that makes her “allergic” to the sun.

She is reportedly the only child in the UK known to be living with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a condition that makes the skin extremely sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light.

The incurable disorder puts Mollie at risk of severe sun damage year-round. She can only safely go outside in protective full-length clothing or after dark.

“She burns all year round and has burnt in November before,” her mother, Kirsty Campbell, 35, a charge nurse, was quoted as saying to The Sun.

“Everyday life is difficult as she needs full protective outerwear for going outside and sun cream every two hours under her clothes.”

UV-Resistant Film Lets Mollie Play In Daylight

Now, thanks to the charity The Archie Foundation, UV-resistant film installed at Mollie’s home last month means she can play indoors during the day without the curtains being closed.

“It means she can do simple things like look outside for the postman or draw in daylight. My ex-partner was having to take playpark equipment into his house as it wasn’t safe outside. She’s so happy running around like a normal child,” her father, Ryan Murray, 34, said.

How Was Mollie Diagnosed?

Mollie was in and out of hospital from infancy with symptoms including seizures and severe reflux.

She first experienced severe sunburn on an overcast day in May 2025. It happened again two months later, eventually leading to her diagnosis with XPF.

Doctors have advised that Mollie is 10,000 times more likely to develop skin cancer than other children. Campbell also uses a UV monitor to check readings in every room and ensure it is safe for Mollie.

The Sun said that her family has been told she may develop neurological impairment and mobility problems in her 40s and 50s, but that she should have a relatively normal childhood.

What Is Xeroderma Pigmentosum?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes XP as a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder marked by extreme sensitivity to UV radiation, changes in skin pigmentation, skin cancer and, in some cases, neurological problems.

The condition usually appears in early childhood and significantly increases the risk of skin cancer.

XP affects roughly one in a million people in the US and Europe, although it is more common in some other parts of the world.

XP itself is not cancer, but it can increase the risk of skin cancer by thousands of times. Other cancers may also be more common in people with the condition.

XP is caused by mutations in specific genes that affect the body’s ability to repair UV-induced DNA damage. It is inherited from parents.

Symptoms Of Xeroderma Pigmentosum

• Skin: Severe sunburn even after brief UV exposure, dry or thin skin, early freckles, changes in skin colour, fragile skin and precancerous growths such as actinic keratoses.
• Eyes: Dryness, irritation, light sensitivity and corneal damage, which can potentially lead to vision loss.
• Neurological: Some people may develop difficulty swallowing, loss of reflexes, problems controlling muscles, cognitive decline and hearing loss.

How Is XP Diagnosed And Treated?

XP can be diagnosed through specialised laboratory tests, including studies of cellular sensitivity to UV radiation, chromosomal breakage, complementation studies and gene sequencing.

But there is currently no cure for XP. Management focuses on avoiding UV exposure, monitoring for complications and treating symptoms.

How Mollie’s Family Is Protecting Her

For Mollie’s family, the priority is to protect her while allowing her to experience as much normality as possible. The UV-resistant film has made a small but significant difference, allowing her to look outside, draw in daylight and play indoors without keeping the curtains closed.

Mollie’s family hopes to give her the highest possible quality of life while keeping her safe.

An 8-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, the rare “brain-eating amoeba” infection believed to have been acquired while swimming in Lake Claiborne.

The girl, identified by her family as Lillian Smart of Ruston, died on August 22, just one day after her eighth birthday. She had been hospitalised since August 15 after developing the infection.

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the case on August 19 but has not publicly identified the child. The tragedy has renewed attention on an extremely rare and fatal infection.

Why Naegleria Fowleri Can Become Deadly So Quickly?

The amoeba then can travel along the olfactory nerves through the nasal cavity and reach the brain, where it causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Also, swallowing contaminated water does not cause PAM, and the infection does not spread from person to person. PAM causes severe inflammation and destruction of brain tissue.

The illness can initially resemble other infections, with symptoms including headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. As the disease progresses, patients may develop advanced symptoms like stiff neck, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and eventually coma.

One of the biggest challenges is the speed at which the infection progresses. According to recent CDC data cited in coverage of the Louisiana case, 173 Naegleria fowleri infections were documented in the US between 1937 and 2025, with only four known survivors. That puts the fatality rate at roughly 97%.

Also read: Louisiana Records 4th ‘Brain-Eating Amoeba' Case In Nearly 90 Years: What To Know About Naegleria Fowleri

Early Symptoms Mimic Other Illnesses

The initial symptoms of PAM can look like bacterial or viral meningitis, which can make the infection difficult to recognise immediately. An individual may initially experience fever, headache, nausea and vomiting before developing neurological symptoms.

By the time the amoeba is identified, significant brain inflammation may already have occurred. Diagnosis can involve testing cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue for the organism. So, rare early symptoms and rapid progression makes early diagnosis of this infection particularly difficult.

Also read: Brain-Eating Amoeba: What To Know About The Microscopic Killer That Took A 12-Year-Old Boy’s Life In Days

There Is No Cure For Naegleria Fowleri

There is no single drug that reliably cures PAM. Because so few cases occur, there have been no large clinical trials establishing a standard treatment regimen.

Doctors have used combinations of antimicrobial and antifungal medicines in survivors and severe cases, with treatment often including drugs such as amphotericin B and miltefosine, alongside intensive supportive care.

The CDC notes that successful treatment has involved combinations of several medicines, but outcomes remain poor.

Simple Precautions Can Reduce The Risk

The CDC recommends avoiding activities in warm freshwater, particularly when water temperatures are high. For people who do enter such water, precautions include:

• Using a nose clip or keeping the nose above water
• Avoiding jumping or diving into warm freshwater
• Avoiding stirring up sediment in shallow, warm areas
• Avoiding putting the head underwater in potentially contaminated water