Victim Calls Former Michigan Cancer Doc 'Monster and Master of Deceit' At Sentencing

Michigan doctor convicted of lying to patients about their cancer status.

ByABC News
July 7, 2015, 12:18 PM

— -- The Michigan doctor who gave patients fake cancer diagnoses so he could bilk Medicare is a "monster and a master of deceit," one of his patients told a judge on Tuesday.

Dr. Farid Fata pleaded guilty in the fall to fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges after scamming Medicare for millions of dollars..

Many of Fata's former patients were left with life-long health problems from incorrect treatment.

"He's a monster and a master of deceit," one victim named Steve told the court via a statement. "I lost three years of my life to cancer treatments. I hate this man. Some may choose to forgive, I never can. Maybe God can."

Fata’s sentencing continued Tuesday with victims sharing their stories. Some victims never had cancer, others were over treated and some had treatment for a different cancer than the one they were diagnosed with because it brought in more money.

The wife of the patient identified as Steve, read his statement to the court saying he would never forgive Fata for what he had done.

"It was a roller coaster physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. I was raped by X-rays and treatments," the patient said through his statement. "What was the amount of radiation I was given? We'll never know."

Another patient, called Christopher, said cancer treatment for a relatively simple case of testicular cancer left him with heart and liver damage due to chemotherapy overdose. He said his kidneys nearly failed and he had one testicle removed, even though that was medically unnecessary.

"They were appalled that I was sitting there in front of them after so many life-threatening treatments that were nearly fatal," Christopher said of his new doctors after leaving Fata's treatment.

All of the victims who gave testimony on Tuesday asked that Fata be given the maximum sentence of life in prison.

"I trusted him with my life. It was medical genocide," one victim named Patricia told the court.

"I was a cash cow," Patricia continued. "The bone marrow biopsy was torture. I had to tell my son I had terminal cancer. I don't know how anyone could do something so horrible. You showed no mercy for me so I have no mercy for you."

Maggie Dorsey sobbed that her treatment left her with lifelong pain and side effects.

"I trusted him," she told the court. "I didn't deserve to end up like this."

In spite of the emotional testimony, Fata showed no emotion and appeared to stare at the floor instead of directly facing the victims.

Prosecutors said that more than 500 patients had received unnecessary treatment under Fata's care before his arrest in 2013.

ABC News' affiliate WXYZ-TV in Detroit and The Associated Press contributed to this story.