Florida Doctor Charged With Manslaughter After Woman Dies During $2,000 Ketamine and MDMA Wellness Ceremony

Dr. Samuel Lee, a Florida physician, has been charged with second-degree felony manslaughter more than a year after 51-year-old Tina Sodhi died during a three-day "Heart Protocol" wellness ceremony at Sabia Wellness House in Miami Beach.

Tina Sodhi died on February 10, 2025. Court records cited by NBC Miami state that the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner later concluded dehydration caused by ketamine, MDMA, a pre-ceremony cleansing regimen, and prolonged sauna exposure contributed to her death.

Court records cited by CBS News Miami show that Dr. Samuel Lee, 44, conducted the three-day "Heart Protocol" ceremony, described as a spiritual wellness experience intended to help participants connect with their "higher selves."

Investigators said the retreat involved ketamine, MDMA, and DMT, along with instructions to complete a gastrointestinal cleansing regimen before the ceremony. Sodhi was later found unresponsive in a rooftop sauna, where emergency responders arrived as Lee was performing CPR. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Court records show investigators recovered messages between Lee and Sodhi, including a receipt for the $2,000 retreat fee. The records also show Sodhi signed a waiver acknowledging that she understood the potential risks and side effects associated with the psychedelic substances used during the ceremony.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner determined that Tina Sodhi died from dehydration resulting from ketamine, MDMA, prolonged sauna exposure, and a cleansing regimen completed before the ceremony, according to court records cited by CBS News Miami.

MDMA can raise body temperature and make it harder for the body to cool itself. Combined with prolonged heat exposure and significant fluid loss, it can increase the risk of heat-related illness and life-threatening dehydration. Ketamine may also impair awareness, making it harder to recognize symptoms that require prompt medical attention.

An independent physician consulted by Miami Beach police concluded that Lee's conduct "reflects an extreme and unjustifiable deviation from accepted safety and clinical practices," according to court records cited by CBS News Miami.

According to court proceedings reported by CBS News Miami, Lee has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. Prosecutors have also asked the court to bar him from providing medical treatment while the criminal case is pending.

The Texas Medical Board has temporarily suspended Lee's medical license, stating that his continued "practice of medicine" poses "a threat to public welfare." NBC Miami also reported that his Florida medical license is listed as expired and delinquent.

Richard Cooper, attorney for Sabia Wellness, said the retreat owner was not responsible for the incident.

"We are grateful for the State Attorney's Office in recognizing that my client was not culpable in this terrible tragedy," Cooper said.

He added that while he believes in the healing potential of alternative therapies, they should be practiced with "qualifications and strictest safety protocols," according to CBS News Miami.

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The case has renewed concerns over patient safety and oversight at psychedelic wellness retreats that combine alternative therapies with psychoactive substances outside traditional clinical settings.

Ketamine has approved medical uses and is used under medical supervision for certain mental health conditions.

However, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner concluded that in Tina Sodhi's case, ketamine, MDMA, prolonged sauna exposure, and a cleansing regimen together contributed to the dehydration that caused her death. Outside controlled clinical settings, such combinations may increase the risk of serious heat-related complications.

(Rh/TP/MSM)