Another Honoree Caught in an Alleged Fraud

by Gary Snyder

Michigan physician Farid Fata was an honorable mention in Crain's Health Care Heroes 2011 edition, for launching the Swan for Life Cancer Foundation in 2009 to provide wellness programs and free educational workshops and support services to cancer patients. 

He now faces charges of health care fraud at U.S. District Court for his role in an alleged $35 million Medicare billing scheme. Among other issues, prosecutors allege Fata directed that chemotherapy be administered to patients who had other serious medical conditions requiring immediate treatment before permitting them to go to the hospital. In one instance, a male patient fell down and hit his head while visiting the practice, and Fata allegedly insisted he get chemotherapy before going to the emergency room. The patient later died from his head injury, according to prosecutors. In yet another instance, a patient came to Michigan Hematology Oncology Centers with extremely low sodium levels, and Fata allegedly had chemo administered first, before the patient could be hospitalized.

So much for his acknowledgement.

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