'It Felt Like Rape' Says Misdiagnosed Patient At Sentencing For Disgraced Cancer Doctor
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - "Despicable." "A master of deceit." "It felt like rape." Those are some of the impact statements from victims of disgraced Oakland County cancer doctor Farid Fata.
A federal judge set aside hours to hear from victims of Dr. Farid Fata, who faces sentencing this week for fraud, money laundering and conspiracy after he admitted to ordering excessive treatments to pocket millions of dollars from insurers.
Roughly two dozen victims signed up to give statements Tuesday in Detroit federal court as part of a lengthy sentence hearing for Fata, 50, who pleaded guilty last year to fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.
Some victims entered court with canes. Others wore elastic sleeves on their wrists, their joints weakened by years of unnecessary chemotherapy. They said they were betrayed by a soft-spoken doctor who won their trust but left them broke and devastated.
"Ten minutes just isn't enough time" to speak, said Laura Stedtfeld, who blames Fata for her father's death.
"Farid Fata, I hate you," she said, her voice rising as she turned toward the doctor seated 10 feet away. "You are repulsive. You disgust me. You are a monster. ... Clearly you're a coward because you can't even look at me now. You poisoned, tortured and murdered my dad."
WWJ's Charlie Langton reported that Fata's face remained expressionless during the emotional testimony.
He looked away, staring at the edge of the defense table, as two dozen people took turns speaking in court, just a fraction of the 553 victims identified by the government. A box of tissues and small bottles of water were available for anyone who needed to pause.
One victim, whose teeth fell out following Fata's excessive treatment, called him a "cowardly bastard" and an "evil person" with "no respect for human life."
Another said he suffers pain, lost his home and filed for bankruptcy, all while being told by Fata he must continue to pay for ongoing care.
A third victim said the doctor practiced "medical genocide."
"I would like to see Fata get life in prison, along with everybody else," said former Fata patient Terry Spurlock. "He gave me three hears too much treatment, and it really damaged my immune system. I can't work like everybody else does nowadays."
The government says more than 500 people received unnecessary treatments from Fata, including some people who didn't have cancer. Prosecutors are seeking a 175-year prison sentence, while the Oakland County man is asking for no more than 25 years.
"Even though I am not dead, I am a shadow of my former self. ... I have days when I cannot stand," said Maggie Dorsey, who can't comb her daughter's hair because of painful joints. "I trusted him. He trusted my insurance and my co-payments."
Some of Fata's patients were allegedly exposed to powerful drugs over and over, despite having no cancer. In an indictment, prosecutors said Fata gave one of his patients 155 chemo treatments over two-and-a-half years — even though the patient was cancer-free.
On Monday, Harvard medical professor Dr. Dan Longo said there were a "stunning" number of rigorous treatments that weren't necessary. Many received a drug called Rituximab. It's typically given eight times for aggressive lymphoma but one patient got it 94 times. In another case, 112 doses were given, when the max was 24.
In a sentencing memorandum, the U.S. Attorney's office said Fata, "is the most egregious fraudster in the history of the country, measured not only by the millions of dollars he stole but by the harm he inflicted on his victims."
Fata — a native of Lebanon — owned and operated Michigan Hematology Oncology Centers with offices in Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Lapeer, Sterling Heights, Troy and Oak Park.
He remains jailed without bond.
The punishment is expected later this week.
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