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PAGER BOMBINGS

Injured person in the pager attacks accuses AUBMC of refusing to treat him, hospital denies

The AUBMC Communication Office reaffirmed its commitment to "all patients" without any discrimination.

Injured person in the pager attacks accuses AUBMC of refusing to treat him, hospital denies

An ambulance transporting injured people to the American University of Beirut hospital following the pager explosions, on Sept. 17, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour)

A voice message accusing the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) of refusing to treat those injured in the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah's pagers and walkie-talkies has sparked controversy on social media for the past two days. When asked by L’Orient-Le Jour, the AUBMC Communication Office categorically denied the accusations and reiterated its commitment to "all patients" without any discrimination, specifying that "those injured who have left the hospital have all benefited from a comprehensive care plan, whether within AUBMC or externally."

The matter has been controversial for two days. It was triggered by the publication of a 30-second telephone communication by the media outlet Lebanon Debate on X. According to the voice message, the authenticity of which could not be verified, and which contains the Arabic inscription "communication between a pager injury victim and the American Hospital of Beirut," an unknown individual speaks in Arabic aggressively to a woman, presenting himself as one of the "pager injured," referring to Israel's hacking operation that remotely detonated numerous pagers and walkie-talkies simultaneously on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024. These attacks resulted in at least 26 deaths and more than 3,200 injuries, including Hezbollah members and also civilians, among them a young child.

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Those affected were transported to several hospitals in Beirut and elsewhere in the country, including AUBMC. At that time, war was raging in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel since Oct. 8, 2023, the day after Hamas's attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, and these waves of attacks marked a turning point in the Israeli escalation in Lebanon.

Pro-Hezbollah condemns

"I called recently, and when I told you that I was one of the pagers, you refused to give me an appointment, didn't you?"

"Indeed," replied the female voice in the controversial clip.

"I just want you to pass a message to the doctor: That he learns humanity before medicine."

The female voice attempted to respond, but the man interrupted her. "Before I let you speak, know that this call is being recorded, just like the previous one, and it will be broadcast on TV and elsewhere," said the man.

Defending the alleged patient, journalist Hussein Mortada, close to Hezbollah, accused AUBMC of making the decision not to admit pager injuries anymore.

"What happened to your oath, your humanity?" he asked, addressing the patient's treating doctor. "What are the Ministry of Health and the Order of Physicians waiting for to react?"

Jinan Zeaiter, a netizen, was also outraged: "Saying to a patient 'you, the pager injured, we are not giving you an appointment,' is that a humane, professional, medical behavior or what?"

AUB's denial

L’Orient-Le Jour contacted the AUBMC Communication Office, which said that "the American University of Beirut and its medical centers have always provided all patients with the highest quality care, regardless of religion, belief, or socioeconomic status. And particularly over the last few months under the most difficult circumstances. The medical staff has been dedicated to providing services of the highest quality."

"Everything that has been circulated on social media is false," added the office. "This harms all those who have benefited from our medical services. Every patient who was treated with us and left the hospital received a comprehensive care plan, whether within the care center or externally."

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Other netizens clashed on social media in response to this issue.

"In your place, I would go get treated in Iran," said one.

"Leave the Americans! Go to al-Rassoul al-Aazam Hospital (close to Hezbollah) instead," retorted another.

Journalist Rabih Farran quickly reacted, calling the matter suspicious. "This is not to defend [AUBMC]. But something is off," he said. "Many pager injured were seen being treated at the American hospital."

Similarly, journalist Ricardo Karam denounced "the false accusations against AUB alleging discrimination in patient care, bias, and lack of inclusivity ... Let's be clear, these are only dangerous and unfounded rumors. AUB has been and will continue to be a university for all, a hospital for all, and a beacon of diversity where origins and affiliations are based on science and healing."

A voice message accusing the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) of refusing to treat those injured in the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah's pagers and walkie-talkies has sparked controversy on social media for the past two days. When asked by L’Orient-Le Jour, the AUBMC Communication Office categorically denied the accusations and reiterated its commitment to "all...