Oncologist in Fraud Case Released, Pending Appeal

Update: The Detroit Free Press reports Farid Fata, the doctor accused of unnecessarily administering chemotherapy to both end-of-life patients and those in remission, was released from jail today by federal Magistrate Judge David Grand.

The Free Press reports the government is appealing the decision before U.S. District Judge David Lawson.

Previous report:

Farid Fata, the doctor accused in a substantial Medicare fraud case, is returning to federal court today, where he'll learn if he will stay in jail, according to a Detroit Free Press report.

Fata, an Oakland Township resident who operated Michigan Hematology Oncology P.C., in Rochester Hills and six other Metro Detroit communities, is accused by federal authorities of unnecessarily administering chemotherapy and deliberately misdiagnosing patients to order expensive testing.

According to a complaint filed by the FBI, Fata billed Medicare for about $24 million in drug treatments over the past two years, more than any other Michigan doctor in his field. 

According to the report, Fata's defense lawyer, Christopher Andreoff, insists his client won't flee to his native Lebanon, but the U.S. Attorney's Office wants the doctor to remain jailed. A judge will decide today, the report indicated.