Dr. Farid Fata/ photo from his website.
Photo: Media gets reaction from family members of victims to the sentencing
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Calling the case "a huge horrific series of criminal acts," a federal judge on Friday sentenced Oakland County oncologist Dr. Farid Fata to 45 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Paul Borman said Fata, who admitted administering unnecessary treatments, including chemo, to patients, "practiced greed and shut down whatever compassion he had as a doctor and switched it to making money."
Fata, who sat at the table with his attorneys, showed little emotion. Afterward, deputy U.S. Marshals handcuffed him and took him away.
Some of the family members of the victims were unhappy with the sentence, thinking it should have been harsher.
"We were hoping for a little bit more," said Kat Pietila of Macomb Township whose husband was treated for testicular cancer. She said he was over medicated by Dr. Fata, which she says was the real cause of his death in 2009 at age 39.
Kat Pietila
She said that she had some feelings when Dr. Fata started crying while talking to the judge.
"I had some compassion, which I was very surprised."
Earlier in the morning, Dr. Fata stood at the podium before the judge, sobbing at times, unable to speak at times.
"I stand before you ashamed of my actions," he said. " I had a gift and I violated the gift."
Dr. Fata had admitted administering unnecessary treatments to patients, including chemo, and defrauding Medicare. Some patients didn't even have cancer.
Fata said he violated the medical oath and caused anguish and pain to his many patients.
"My quest for power is self destructive," he said.
"I misused my talents," he said. "And permitted this sin to enter me because of my abuse of power and greed."
He also said:
"I have accepted responsibility. And admitted I am wrong."
Ellen Piligian, whose father John, a pathologist, was treated for cancer by Dr. Fata, seemed a little unsure about the sentence. She said she was OK with essentially what was a life sentence for Dr. Fata.
But as for sending a message to others in the medical community, she said it could have been harsher.
"I expected it to be much higher in terms of sending a message and setting a precedent," she said. "I was expecting, based on the judge's comments leading up to the sentencing, that it would be much higher."
Ellen Piligian
She said he was affected by Dr. Fata's tearful remarks in court, and said she felt a little sorry for him.
"I got choked up," she said.
Before sentencing, Dr. Fata's attorney Christopher Andreoff, asked for some mercy, and suggested the judge give no more than 25 years. The government was asking for 175 years.
Andreoff said that Dr. Fata had lost everything; his career and wife and children who have moved out of the country. Dr. Fata is from Lebanon.
Justice Department Attorney Catherine Dick, who works on Medicare fraud cases, said she had never seen such a case before that involved so much harm.
"There is not way to quantify the suffering," she said.
Judge Borman mentioned during sentencing that Dr. Fata had a problem with alcohol and drugs, and ordered treatment in prison if necessary.
