DETROIT – The Detroit- area doctor accused of misdiagnosing patients as part of a health care fraud scheme is scheduled to go to trial on charges in October.
According to court documents, Fata -- who is being held on a $9 million bond -- has an Oct. 18 trial date. He has until the beginning of that month to enter a plea.
The government says Fata ripped off Medicare for millions of dollars by giving chemotherapy to patients who didn't need it and diagnosing cancer when the illness wasn't apparent.
View: Federal grand jury indictment against Fata
Fata owns and operates Michigan Hematology Oncology Centers (MHO) which has offices in Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Lapeer, Sterling Heights, Troy and Oak Park.
Doctors and nurses who worked with Fata told federal agents Fata often gave patients doses of medication they didn't need at toxic levels, treated them in office settings as opposed to hospitals and had what is referred to as "interns" or foreign doctors treat a high number of patients.
Dr. Farid Fata court date documents