Patients plan to speak next week at sentencing of cancer doctor

DETROIT (AP) - The government says about two dozen patients or relatives of patients want to speak next week at the sentencing of a Detroit-area cancer doctor who gave expensive, unnecessary treatments to hundreds of people.

The hearing for Dr. Farid Fata starts Monday and is expected to last at least a week in Detroit federal court. Judge Paul Borman is expected to hear from experts for the government and Fata.

In a court filing Tuesday, prosecutors asked Borman to not allow Fata's lawyers to cross-examine patients.

Fata pleaded guilty to fraud last September, admitting he billed insurers for millions of dollars while treating patients with chemotherapy and other methods when they didn't need it. Some didn't even have cancer.

The government is seeking a 175-year prison sentence.

Published: Thu, Jul 02, 2015