Rima Rahbani alleges medical negligence in brother Ziad's final days

A few weeks after the first anniversary of Ziad Rahbani’s death on July 26, 2025, at the age of 69, his sister Rima has revealed new details about his final days and the circumstances leading up to his hospitalization. In a lengthy post on her Facebook account, she spoke about delays in responding to his deteriorating health, raising questions about what happened before his passing.

According to her post, Rima Rahbani said that Ziad had been suffering in his final period and had reached a stage where he needed medical intervention. She noted that he did not easily accept the idea of going to the hospital and was adamant in refusing to be taken there.

She explained that dealing with Ziad’s refusal of treatment or hospitalization was not easy, stating that he "categorically refused to consult others," and attempts to persuade him were rarely successful. However, she also questioned how his case was handled, especially as his condition worsened, suggesting that his refusal alone did not explain everything that happened in his last days.

She wrote in her post: "Ziad died by mistake, if not outright due to clear negligence," before discussing his refusal to go to the hospital. She added that handling his case required a firmer stance as his health declined.

Rima said that Ziad "was mishandled," and that even if he was a "stubborn and difficult patient," his health should have been managed differently. She believes the many stories and accounts after his death make it necessary to clarify the facts about what happened.

Rima pointed out that Ziad did not deal with his illness in the way those around him might have expected, and that his stubbornness and refusal of some medical procedures contributed to the difficulty of the situation. However, she stressed that this did not absolve those around him from the responsibility to take decisive action when his condition required it.

The comments from the late Lebanese composer’s sister are especially significant as they provide an account from within the family about the period leading up to Ziad Rahbani’s death, after multiple stories circulated about his health and the circumstances of his hospitalization.

Rima was careful to distinguish between Ziad’s own responsibility as a patient who refused some forms of intervention, and what she considers mistakes or shortcomings in how he was treated. She did not present her account as a direct accusation against any specific party, but rather raised questions about whether things could have been handled differently before his condition became critical.

Rima Rahbani also criticized the proliferation of stories and rumors about her brother, saying it was time to clarify some facts instead of leaving room for speculation. She said she felt compelled to speak out after the "many stories and reports," emphasizing the need for the truth to come out.

Ziad Rahbani, son of singer Fairuz and composer Assi Rahbani, was one of the most influential innovators in Arab music and theater. Since the 1970s, he produced works that blended music, satirical theater, and social and political critique, and played a major role in many of Fairuz’s performances and musical arrangements.