A popular cancer doctor in Michigan, Dr. Farid Fata, who was accused
of giving false diagnosis to cancer patients to make money, has pleaded
guilty to the charges.
In a Detroit courtroom on Tuesday, 7 October, Fata admitted to
intentionally and wrongfully diagnosing healthy people with cancer, and
giving them chemotherapy drugs, with the aim of making profit.
According to government records, Fata’s medical practice included 1,200 patients.
Fata, who owns Michigan Hematology Oncology, which had multiple
offices throughout Detroit’s suburbs, was reportedly tearful as he
stated his plea in the absence of a plea deal. He said, “It is my
choice.”
He also revealed several dangerous drugs which he had prescribed to
his patients, and with each admittance, he said, “I knew that it was
medically unnecessary.”
The US Attorney, who is prosecuting the case, Barbara McQuade is
expected to seek a sentence of life in prison, after labelling it “the
most egregious” health care fraud case she has ever seen.
McQuade said that apart from the insurance fraud, Fata also harmed,
and in some cases, killed his patients with dangerous chemotherapy drugs
that were unnecessary to them.
Angela Swantek, a chemotherapy nurse, who was the whistle blower of
the doctor, said she had reported him to the authorities as far back as
2010, but they informed her that there was no proof of malpractice in
Fata’s practice.
“I’m numb, I’m not surprised though; I wondered how his team was
going to defend him. The charts don’t lie. I left after an hour and
half. I thought this is insane,” Swantek said about her short time in
Fata’s office in 2010 where she noticed patients receiving chemotherapy
incorrectly. She wrote a letter to the state suggesting an investigation
that day. In 2011, the state informed her they found no proof of
wrongdoing at Fata’s office.”
“I handed them Dr. Fata on a platter in 2010 and they did absolutely
nothing. I started crying. I thought about all of the patients he took
care of and harmed. At a time when they are most vulnerable and fearful,
cancer patients put their lives in the hands of doctors and endure
risky treatments at their recommendation.”
Meanwhile, the Assistant Attorney General, Leslie Caldwell accused Fata of putting greed before the health of his patients.
“Dr. Fata today admitted he put greed before the health and safety of
his patients, putting them through unnecessary chemotherapy and other
treatments just so that he could collect additional millions from
Medicare. The mere thought of what he did is chilling.”
49-year-old Fata will be sentenced in February before U.S. District
Judge Paul Borman. He is a native of Lebanon, but became a naturalized
citizen of the U.S. in 2009.
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