Court affirms 45-year sentence for cancer doc

DETROIT (AP) — An appeals court has affirmed the 45-year prison sentence for a Detroit-area cancer doctor who put hundreds of patients through needless treatments.

Farid Fata’s appeal focused on how a judge calculated the sentencing guidelines and whether it was proper to allow many victims to speak in court. In a 3-0 decision last week, the appeals court saids the arguments lack merit.

Fata pleaded guilty in 2014 to fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. The government identified 553 victims, along with insurance companies. Medicare and insurers paid at least $17 million.

Many patients who were told they had cancer went through excessive chemotherapy. The treatments wrecked their health.