Shocking moment former Brazilian congressman slaps computer screen at hospital ‘after friend was denied treatment due to unpaid invoice’
This is the moment a Brazilian politician punched a computer during an argument with a hospital director after his friend was allegedly denied hospital treatment.
In the video taken on a cell phone, former congressman Raad Massouh is seen confronting workers at Santa Helena Hospital in Asa Norte on Wednesday, who allegedly asked Antônio Melo to make a deposit of about $19,500 for his emergency care.
“I want one of you to tell me which bank makes a Pix payment at one o’clock in the morning for 110,000 reals,” the angry politician asked. “Can any credit card pay 110,000 reals at this moment?”
In anger, he smashed the screen off the counter and continued to curse at the staff before going to check on Melo, who was lying on a bed.
Former Brazilian congressman Raad Massouh was filmed smashing a hospital computer screen while arguing with staff over the alleged lack of care provided to a friend who had been punched and was unable to pay a bill
Antônio Melo rested on a hospital bed in the emergency room of Santa Helena Hospital in Asa Norte, Brazil, as his friend and former congressman Raad Massouh advocated on his behalf after staff reportedly refused to provide care over an unpaid bill of approximately $19,500. He was eventually placed in intensive care and later transferred to a private hospital
Massouh told Metropoles that he visited the medical facility after Melo’s family contacted him and that he only wanted to help his friend of more than 30 years.
Melo’s daughter, Lia Nascimento, 44, told the newspaper she noticed his “speech was slurred and his foot was purple.”
She took Melo to the Sobradinho Regional Hospital, where he received no treatment, then took him to the Santa Helena Hospital.
“They said they would find an ICU room for him,” Nascimento said. “More than two hours later, they informed us that a deposit of R$110,000 was needed to transfer him to the ICU. So we called Raad.”
According to Massouh, Melo was placed in intensive care after the bizarre incident and a room was found for him. His family then had him transferred to a private clinic.
Former Brazilian congressman Raad Massouh, who holds dual Syrian and Brazilian citizenship, served in the Federal District Legislative Assembly from 2010 to 2013. He was removed from office amid allegations of embezzlement.
Santa Helena Hospital said in a statement that it never denied Melo care.
“The patient was evaluated immediately upon arrival at the hospital, underwent additional testing, was diagnosed and treated for the diagnosis he received. He continues to receive treatment and monitoring,” the hospital said.
‘Only after care, diagnosis and necessary treatment, the family receives an estimated bill, because the patient must continue treatment in the hospital.’
Massouh, who holds dual Syrian and Brazilian citizenship, was a member of the Federal District Legislative Assembly from 2010 to 2013. He was removed from office in 2013 amid allegations of embezzlement.