Telehealth Company Faces Lawsuit Over Ketamine Death of New York Paralegal
A tragic case has emerged linking the death of a New York paralegal to a telehealth company that prescribed her ketamine, the same drug that killed Hollywood actor Matthew Perry. Tricia Anne Dewey, a 41-year-old from Pound Ridge, New York, was found unresponsive on her bedroom floor after taking a dose of ketamine sent to her by pharmaceutical company Better U.
Family Alleges Negligence in Prescription Practices
According to a lawsuit filed by Dewey's family, she had been battling a debilitating painkiller addiction that stemmed from years of domestic violence. The family claims she was drawn to Better U by the company's pledge that five to nine sessions of ketamine could 'retrain your brain.' Despite informing the company that she was already taking Xanax—a medication the Food and Drug Administration warns can be dangerous when combined with ketamine—Dewey was prescribed dissolvable doses of the controlled substance.
On July 18 of last year, Dewey took a dose of ketamine and was discovered unresponsive by her mother, Carleanne Fierro. She was later declared dead at the hospital. The Westchester County medical examiner ruled her cause of death as accidental intoxication caused by a mix of ketamine and Xanax.
'She trusted Better U and she really wanted to have a better life,' Fierro told the Wall Street Journal, expressing the family's grief and sense of betrayal.
Company Response and Industry Context
Better U's chief executive, Derek Du Chesne, expressed condolences but cited patient confidentiality when declining to provide specifics on Dewey's case. 'When someone is harmed or dies while seeking help for their mental health, it is a tragedy, and my heart goes out to Ms. Dewey's family and loved ones,' Du Chesne stated.
He emphasized that the company's clinicians are independent professionals who make medical decisions based on their judgment, not employees of Better U. An unnamed clinician was cited in the lawsuit for prescribing Dewey the ketamine she took before her death.
Du Chesne outlined the company's safety protocols, including careful screening, conservative dosing, required preparation appointments, and blood-pressure monitoring. 'Ketamine-assisted treatment is an evolving area that carries both potential benefits and meaningful risks,' he acknowledged.
Better U offers ketamine therapy packages, with a five-session plan for $500 and a nine-session plan for $792, marketed as treatments for mental health conditions.
Ketamine's Regulatory Status and Celebrity Connection
Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic approved by the FDA for surgical use but has gained popularity as an experimental treatment for psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety over the past decade. While clinicians can prescribe it for off-label uses, US authorities warn that ketamine is not FDA-approved for treating psychiatric disorders.
The case echoes the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, who died in October 2023 from the acute effects of ketamine, according to his autopsy. Perry, 54, had a history of drug abuse and used ketamine regularly, including three times on the day of his death. He was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his home, with his death ruled an accidental overdose. Two doctors later pleaded guilty to charges related to distributing ketamine in connection with Perry's death.
Growing Concerns Over Telehealth Ketamine Clinics
There are an estimated 500 to 750 independent ketamine clinics in the United States, offering a mix of in-clinic and telehealth services, according to a 2024 Drug Enforcement Administration report. The DEA has warned that the number of these clinics has increased rapidly due to celebrity endorsements and viral attention.
Authorities note that the ability to obtain ketamine through online platforms for at-home use may be attractive to patients, but the FDA cautions that ketamine's sedative and dissociative effects pose serious risks without proper medical supervision. The agency emphasizes that sedation and dissociation can be dangerous, putting patients at risk if not monitored appropriately.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it highlights ongoing debates about the regulation of telehealth services and the safe use of ketamine in mental health treatment. The Daily Mail has reached out to Better U, Du Chesne, and Dewey's family for further comment, underscoring the public and media interest in this developing story.
