At first glance, the story seems poorly told, taking place in a private hospital. Betty Grafstein was hospitalized for 45 days at the CUF hospital in Cascais. She was admitted on April 20, with an alleged fracture of her femur and pneumonia, and only left at the beginning of June 4, when her son, Roger Basile, took her to New York. The hospital was left with a bill of around 50,000 euros, which no one wants to pay now, and which could end up in a legal process with unforeseen consequences.
How could a hospital allow a patient – without insurance – to leave without paying the bills? That is the great mystery of this new case affecting Betty and José Castelo Branco, which seems inexplicable. And more than that, how did it get to this point, two and a half months after they were “discharged” from the hospital, in a hospital where police, lawyers and the media were involved?
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Betty's lawyers want Castelo Branco to pay the hospital's debts. The controversy was discussed at Noite das Estrelas.
In other words, who cares if those €50,000 haven't been paid yet? And who should pay them?
Once the debt was made public, the parties—through their lawyers—spoke publicly. While Castello Branco argued that Betty should pay the bill—because it was her son who had taken her out of the hospital and was prevented from seeing her because of a domestic violence complaint—Roger’s lawyers declared that it was up to him. Castello, as the husband, would pay the bill—because he was the one who chose the institution where his wife would be admitted.
But… if Basile tells Vanity Fair that his mother has no money, then Jose has no way to pay either. What's left for us?
Officially, until the divorce is finalized, since Castelo Branco is married to Betty Grafstein, he is responsible for the hospital bill – which, however, does not explain why the American was able to leave without resolving the matter. If the judicial process progresses and it is proven that he is on the side of the dealer to pay, a new problem arises for José, which could eventually lead to his arrest – although this scenario is unlikely.
A deliberate strategy? There are indeed those who believe so, and that the statement made by the son of the diamond maker so far was random. Meanwhile, the 50 thousand bill remains unpaid.
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Shirley Farmer is a contributor to Brytfmonline.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. With an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessibility, Shirley writes stories that provide useful information and meaningful context, making complex topics easier to understand for a broad audience.