Cancer Doc Wants Fraud Trial Moved From Detroit Area
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A cancer specialist accused of fraud is returning to court to learn if his trial will be moved out of southeastern Michigan.
Attorneys for Dr. Farid Fata -- who is accused of giving chemotherapy to patients who didn't need it -- say publicity about the case has poisoned the jury pool. They say the allegations are well-known and widely believed long before a trial.
Federal Judge Paul Borman is holding a court hearing Tuesday in Detroit.
The Oakland County doctor is charged with committing fraud to enrich himself through health insurance programs. Prosecutors say Fata intentionally misdiagnosed patients and ordered unnecessary treatments to enrich himself through insurance programs in a scheme that dates back to Aug. 2007. Fata has denied all wrongdoing.
According to the government, some of Fata's patients were exposed to powerful drugs over and over, despite having no cancer. In a first superseding indictment, prosecutors say Fata gave one of his patients 155 chemo treatments over two-and-a-half years – even though the patient was cancer-free. Other patients, they say, were pumped with unnecessary blood therapy and iron treatments.
In a separate matter, lawyer Christopher Andreoff wants the public to pay for his defense of Fata. He says Fata has run out of money to pay him.
Click here to catch up on this case.
TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
