We put a lot of faith in our doctors, and with good reason. They spent years of their lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars studying medicine. They took an oath to do no harm and to always act with their patient’s best interest in mind. This is especially true for oncologists, who treat people for one of society’s most-feared illnesses: Cancer. That’s part of what makes this story so gut-wrenching and terrifying. Sentenced to 45-years in prison, Dr. Farid Fata scammed millions of cancer patients to become a millionaire – some who didn’t even have cancer at all. (1)
Doctor Who Scammed Millions of Cancer Patients Sentenced to 45 Years in Jail
Doctors make a good salary, and rightly-so. For Dr. Farid Fata, however, that salary wasn’t enough. He scammed millions of cancer patients to make millions of dollars of his own. He did this by putting more than 500 patients through painful and grueling cancer treatments that they didn’t need. (1)
Many of these patients went completely bankrupt, losing their jobs and their homes. Many suffered severe health consequences, such as extremely brittle bones and organs that no longer function properly, if at all. In one case, a victim even lost both of his legs. (1)
What’s worse, is some of these patients didn’t even have cancer at all. (1)
In July of 2015, Fata was finally brought to justice. The judge sentenced him to 45-years behind bars. Despite remaining emotionless as he listened to former patients testify against him, he broke down sobbing in court during his own testimony. (1)
“I misused my talents, yes, and permitted this sin to enter me because of power and greed,” the former doctor cried as he begged the judge for mercy. “My quest for power is self-destructive.” (1)
This is not his only offense: The year prior (one year after being arrested), he also pleaded guilty to money laundering, fraud, and conspiracy. (2)
Justice Only Partially Served
Fata treated one patient, Monica Flagg, for cancer using powerful and expensive drugs. When she later broke her leg, however, doctors examining her found no cancer at all. Like many other victims and their loved ones, she doesn’t feel like he got what he deserved. (1)
“Prosecutors did a fantastic job – and he got 45 years. It’s a lifetime sentence for the rest of us,” she said. “What about all the grave markers out there that all the victims’ families have to look at?” (1)
He administered one drug, Rituximab, at doses that severely weaken the immune system and leave patients vulnerable to life-threatening infection. For aggressive lymphoma, doctors usually give the drug eight times. He gave some patients the drug 76 and even 94 times. (1)
He defrauded the publicly-funded medical system out of $34 million, and even nurses at his clinics spoke up about his unnecessary cancer treatments. Still, their complaints went largely unheard for years. (2)
“I feel like the state of Michigan is somewhat culpable for the fact that I handed them Fata on a plate in 2010, and he could have been stopped at that time,” said nurse Angela Swantek. “But the carnage continued for three years until he was arrested in August of 2013.” (2)
The prosecutors asked for 125 years; however, the judge only gave the 50-year old 45. If he has good behavior, then his sentence could be shortened. (1)
Pleas For Compassion During COVID-19 Pandemic
This past year, Fata made a request to be released from prison 31-years early in fear of contracting COVID-19. The disease was prominent in prisons, and the former doctor was a high-risk person. (3)
Fata says he is susceptible because of several health conditions, including (3):
- type 2 diabetes with diabetic neuropathy and vision complications
- immune deficiency with low white blood cell counts and low neutrophil counts
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- esophageal reflux
- Gastritis
- mild cognitive impairment/early dementia
Thousands of inmates are on release and under house arrest in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. His request, however, was denied. (4)
This was his second attempt, after attempting to have his guilty plea withdrawn the year prior. He claimed the courts misled him about what his sentence was likely to be. (2)
The prison where Fata lives in South Carolina has had very few cases of the novel coronavirus. The judge ruled that Fata’s conditions are under control via medications and treatments. (4)
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Sources
- “Multimillionaire doctor who plunged hundreds of patients into bankruptcy by falsely diagnosing cancer and giving them unnecessary chemo is jailed for 45 YEARS.” Daily Mail. Sophie Jane Evans. July 11, 2015.
- “New, top podcast tells story of cancer doctor who scammed, gave patients unneeded chemo.” Freep. Slone Terranella. November 10, 2020.
- ” ‘Dr Death’ to Remain in Prison; $4 Million Paid to Patients.” Medscape. Nick Mulcahy. July 11, 2020.
- “Cancer doctor Fata wants out of prison 31 years early amid COVID-19.” Detroit News. Robert Snell. May 6, 2020.