Expert testifies against cancer doctor at sentencing hearing

DETROIT (AP) – An expert who looked at the files of 100 patients of a Detroit-area cancer doctor says the records are “disturbing”.

Dr. David Steensma of Harvard Medical School said some patients received hundreds of unnecessary chemotherapy treatments. Others wore elastic sleeves on their wrists, their joints weakened by years of unnecessary chemotherapy.

Federal prosecutors said Fata, who raked in millions of dollars, had more than 500 victims.

There were abnormal drug combinations, unusual dosage levels, extraordinarily extended chemotherapy periods and outpatient treatments for people who should have been watched closely as inpatients, Steensma said. “You are repulsive. You disgust me”.

“People can make mistakes, and there is support in this bone marrow biopsy for treating MDS”, said defense attorney Mark Kriger while cross-examining Steensa on a misdiagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome.

But prosecutors are seeking a 175-year prison sentence, likening Fata to Ponzi scammer Bernie Madoff and accusing him of bullying patients into unsafe treatments to pay for an opulent lifestyle. It’s unclear what day Fata will be sentenced; the hearing began Monday and is expected to last all week.

“I think he’s guilty of the most cruel thing that a human being can do to another human being”, Maunglay said. “I’ve never seen anything like this”.

While not denying there were many instances of mistreatment, defense lawyers have sought to characterize some of them as mistakes made by a doctor with aggressive cancer-fighting technique.

A decision is likely to come Thursday or Friday. He forfeits $9,146,841 in currency; a commercial space and a home, both in Clarkston, with a combined value of approximately $1,442,232; the cash value of two life insurance policies; all assets being administered in an Oakland County Circuit Court action for the benefit of creditors regarding Fata’s oncology business; and any interest in a variety of other accounts.