Trial begins for Maradona’s medical team accused of negligence

Four years after the passing of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals are set to stand trial for alleged negligence in his final days.

The trial, taking place in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, is expected to last four months and will feature testimonies from over 100 witnesses, including Maradona’s relatives and doctors who treated him. If convicted, the defendants could face sentences ranging from eight to 25 years in prison.

Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot. He had long struggled with addiction to cocaine and alcohol. His death, attributed to a heart attack, occurred in a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood where he was staying after being discharged from the hospital two weeks earlier. A night nurse later reported noticing warning signs but claimed he had been instructed not to wake him.

His passing during the COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected Argentina, with thousands of fans lining up to pay their respects as his body lay in state at the presidential palace.

Who Are the Accused?

The accused include neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, doctor Pedro Pablo Di Spagna, and nurse Ricardo Almiro. Another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, will be tried separately in July.

Prosecutors argue that Maradona’s medical care at home was reckless and inadequate, leaving him in a prolonged and agonizing state before his death. A 2021 medical panel determined that with proper treatment at a suitable medical facility, his survival chances would have been significantly higher.

Despite the allegations, all defendants deny responsibility. The lawyer representing psychiatrist Cosachov remains optimistic about an acquittal, emphasizing that his client was responsible for Maradona’s mental health, not his physical well-being.

The Charges

Maradona’s family asserts that leaked messages indicate his health was in grave danger. According to their lawyer, the medical team attempted to prevent Maradona’s daughters from intervening to safeguard their financial interests.

Maradona’s legacy endures across Argentina through murals, statues, and exhibitions. Plans are also underway to establish a mausoleum in Buenos Aires, expected to attract up to a million visitors annually. His daughter, Dalma Maradona, emphasized that the site will allow her father to remain close to the people who loved him.