Dhaka: On 10 July, nearly two years after his arrest, a cancer doctor was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, in the United States, for making fraudulent diagnoses to hundreds of patients, reported several US media.

Dr Farid Fata, of Detroit, had been violating more than 550 patients’ trust and raking in more than $17 million from fraudulent billings, reported the USA Today.

The doctor prescribed toxic chemicals that were pumped into otherwise healthy people, all to collect millions of dollars from insurers.

The 50-year-old sobbed at Friday’s hearing as he apologised and said: ‘I misused my talents ... because of power and greed.

‘My quest for power is self-destructive.’

There were 553 victims, not including insurers, and more than 9,000 unnecessary infusions or injections. In some cases, the oncologist gave nearly four times the recommended dosage for aggressive cancer drugs.

At least $17m (£11m) was paid to the father of three for work he admitted was unnecessary.

US District Judge Paul Borman said: ‘This is a huge, horrific series of criminal acts that were committed by the defendant.’

Patients tearfully told the court this week of broken relationships, ruined finances and damaged health because of Fata’s malpractice.

One witness was a healthy adult who lost his teeth after undergoing unnecessary chemotherapy. Another patient was diagnosed with lung cancer when he actually had kidney cancer.

Some statements were given by family members of victims who died.

Fata was arrested in August 2013 and pleaded guilty in September last year to healthcare fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. The sentence was greater than the 25 years that the defence called for.

Lebanon-born Fata’s lawyers said a longer sentence could result in their client’s death due to his diabetes and hypertension. The prosecution had called for the maximum 175-year sentence.