When we go to the doctors, we expect them to treat us with care and compassion. While many do, some don't, including this one Detroit doctor.
Dr. Farid Fata, 50, was considered to be one of the best hematologist-oncologists in the area. But with his trial that eventually led to his conviction and sentencing for 45 years, he was just a fraudster, according to his former patients.
As reported by CNN, Dr. Fata ran a scheme where he mistreated at least 500 of his patients, misdiagnosing them with cancer and giving them strong doses of chemotherapy or expensive unnecessary treatments. With this, he's able to collect more than $15 million from private insurance and Medicare, which he had to forfeit.
Based on the testimonies of some of his patients who attended the hearings and the sentencing, the chemo drugs were incredibly high dose that their body certainly suffered from adverse effects. Robert Sobieray, for example, eventually lost his teeth as his jaw started to become deformed. He was treated with chemo for more than a year even if he didn't have cancer in the first place.
Patty Hester didn't have cancer either, but the doctor diagnosed her with myelodysplastic syndrome after her white blood count test revealed it low. Although she didn't have chemotherapy, she was subjected to several rounds of blood plasma, which were very expensive.
Although some of the patients indeed have cancer, some of them didn't receive any respite from the treatment. Rather, their condition turned for the worse due to the harshness of the drugs. One man had undergone testicle removal even if it was unnecessary.
During the sentencing, the guilty doctor addressed the crowd of patients and their families, expressing his deep regret. He attributed his actions to his hunger for power and that he's ashamed of what he's done.
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Aside from Medicare fraud, he was also convicted of conspiracy to receive kickbacks and money laundering. He is expected to serve at least 34 years of his life in a prison of the state.
In the meantime, with the ruling, the patients and those left behind are hopeful they can file claims.