Up To $17 Million In Restitution Funds For Victims Of Cancer Doctor

DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - Victims of an Oakland County doctor who gave chemotherapy treatments to patients who didn't need them -- stand to see restitution money.

A restitution hearing in Detroit U.S. District's Judge Paul Borman's courtroom Thursday brought the disgraced Dr. Farid Fata before many former patients and their families.

The judge ordered patients be given priority over insurance companies when it comes to dividing up slightly more than $17 million forfeited from Fata.

Almost $14 million has been recovered by authorities in the case - the other $3 plus million is still being sought after through the legal system.

But as encouraging as that may sound - it means additional paperwork and layers of bureaucracy for people already victimized by enduring treatment for a cancer they did not have.

For Kat Viatella, whose husband died in 2009, she now has the additional burden of paperwork to fill.

"I'm going to have to pull money out of my pocket for sure to pay for Blue Cross/Blue Shield to produce documentation, from my pharmacy to produce documentation for me to have to locate bank statements from my financial institution - so there is a lot of work ahead," said an exasperated Viatella.

Fata was found guilty of poisoning more than 550 patients with chemotherapy treatments they either did not need because they did not have cancer or were over-treated with drugs and/or treatment for end of life treatment -- others were found to have been undertreated for their cancer.

Some of Fata's patients were 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.

Harvard medical professor Dr. Dan Longo said there were a "stunning" number of rigorous treatments that weren't necessary. Many received a drug called Rituximab. It's typically given eight times for aggressive lymphoma but one patient got it 94 times. In another case, 112 doses were given, when the max was 24.

In a sentencing memorandum, the U.S. Attorney's office said 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."

Fata was sentenced in July to 45 years in prison. Many thought the sentence was too light given the prosecutor's office asked for a sentence of 175 years.

Parole is not possible in the federal case but Fata could be released sooner based on credit for good behavior in prison.

Fata was in court Thursday but told the judge that he doesn't want any part of the how or who gets the money.

A GoFundMe account has been set up by a family (unrelated to the case) moved by the victims' stories.

The goal is to raise $20 million.