Patients Allegedly Duped into Chemo Treatments Now Have Support Group

An informal patient support group has emerged in the wake of federal prosecutors bringing Medicare fraud charges against a Detroit-area cancer specialist.

Some of Dr. Farid Fata's former patients and family members of patients have created a Facebook page to discuss their grievances.

Jeff Berz of Utica says he plans to organize a meeting with interested parties to discuss their legal options.

Berz's father, Milton, was Fata's patient. He underwent painful chemotherapy treatments before dying in 2008.

The government says Fata ripped off Medicare by giving chemotherapy to patients who didn't need it and diagnosing cancer when it wasn't apparent.

Defense lawyer Christopher Andreoff says Fata is innocent.

The 48-year-old from Oakland Township remains jailed on $9 million bond. A preliminary examination is scheduled for Tuesday.