Matthew Perry Defendant'‘s Claims
The live-in assistant who administered the ketamine that killed actor Matthew Perry argued he “only did what his boss said." The case raises issues of character and could spark a class discussion about ethics.
Kenneth Iwamasa pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 41 months in prison, but his attorney argued that he was carrying out his job. Prosecutors identify financial benefits for Iwamasa, as they have for other defendants, including Perry’s suppliers: the so-called “Ketamine Queen” and the doctor-dealer, who said, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets [sic] find out.”
Perry’s stepfather accused Iwamasa of not wanting to sacrifice his personal income and “living like a king.” He said, “You kept injecting him with more. You could have made the phone call, but you were living a pretty dandy life.” Character dimensions at play are integrity and compassion.
Demonstrating strong character often means putting others’ interests ahead of our own. This is perhaps the biggest failing of those involved in Perry’s death. Iwamasa’s statement about how he loved and cared for Perry seems to contradict his actions. The accusation was illegal drug distribution, and Iwamasa admitted to breaking the law.
In her work on Giving Voice to Values, Mary Gentile offers a class activity for students to identify times at work when they did and did not speak up when a situation conflicted with their values. Students identify circumstances that made it possible and difficult for them to speak up. The hope is for students to learn from their past and to have courage in future situations, regardless of an employer’s demands.