Farid Fata (Photo : YouTube)
A cancer doctor who gave fake chemotherapy treatments to people who did not have the deadly disease, over-treated terminally-ill patients, and under-treated people who actually had the tumor-causing illness, has been hit with a 45-year prison sentence. However, many of the fraud victims and their immediate families argue that the jail time for the physician's malpractice is just a slap on the wrist.
Dr. Farid Fata, a Detroit oncologist who was arrested almost two years ago, was sentenced Friday to 4.5 decades in a federal prison. His list of crimes included breaking the trust of over 550 patients, and racking up over $17 million from fake billing statements.
Many victims of the Oakland County physician's fraudulent bills were not fully satisfied with the punishment that was handed down. They believe it does not fit the crime.
Patricia Loewen shared that the ex-cancer doctor "killed" her 62-year-old husband, who died in September. She believes he deserves life in prison.
Fata admitted to under-treating, over-treating, and misdiagnosing patients. This included $34.7 million in medical bills sent to patients and insurance companies, and $17.6 million in unnecessary charges.
The former doctor's medical license has been revoked. He also remains behind bars. Fata has agreed to give back $17.6 million and personal assets as part of the court case's settlement, according to Detroit Free Press.
Gregory Cadd, whose father received an over-treatment from Fata, believes that the former doctor's sentence should have been two times what he received. Getting money means nothing to him.
Cadd explained that his father was targeted because of his high-end insurance policy and lung cancer. Fata continued prescribing the unnecessary treatment until he died.
George Karadsheh was the whistleblower and ex-coworker of Fata. He helped to bring the disgraced cancer doctor to justice after he discovered that several staffers were leaving the specialist's medical center, due to his use of chemotherapy treatment when it was not a medical necessity, according to ABC News.
Fata, a native of Lebanon, is a naturalized United States citizen. The former physician's family has left the country, while Fata's lawyer reported that this has caused his client lonely feelings.
