Victims Of Cancer Doctor Farid Fata Now Look For Answers

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) -- After pleading guilty back in September 2014, Dr. Farid Fata was given resolution on Friday in the form of a 45-year prison sentence for needlessly putting more than 500 people under unnecessary cancer treatments.

In a sentencing memorandum filed on May 28, the U.S. Attorney's office says Fata, "is the most egregious fraudster in the history of the country, measured not only by the millions of dollars he stole but by the harm he inflicted on his victims."

Patient Teddy Howard was diagnosed by Fata with a rare form of blood cancer, underwent treatment and later found out that he didn't even have cancer.

"I have a mountain of debt -- medical debt -- from this doctor, and a whole lot of co-pay that I don't know how I'm going to pay for," Howard said.

Howard developed Liver Disease and had a liver transplant in September.

Some of Fata's patients were allegedly exposed to powerful drugs over and over, despite having no cancer. In an indictment, prosecutors said Fata gave one of his patients 155 chemo treatments over two-and-a-half years — even though the patient was cancer-free.

U.S Attorney Barbara McQuade held a press conference following Fata's sentencing. She said that Fata's case stunned even her.

"It's very hard to quantify the kind of harm that happens in a case like this," McQuade said. "The victims suffered just stunning harm. When we heard about the harm in this case, it was really hard to believe.

"I remember the day this case came in the door and I remember thinking that 'wow, it sounds really serious, but I can't imagine that it's true,'" McQuade said.

McQuade said that while there were over 500 patient victims, there are countless other victims who are their family members.

In the courtroom Friday, WWJ's Charlie Langton reported the disgraced doctor said he was "ashamed" of his actions and broke down sobbing as he spoke to the judge.

Fata apologized to his victims and their families, saying, "I grossly abused the trust my patients put in me," adding that his "quest for power is self-destructive."

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