Four years after Argentine football icon Diego Maradona’s passing, seven healthcare professionals are set to stand trial accused of negligence during his final days.
Over 100 witnesses, including Maradona’s family and doctors, will testify during the four-month trial beginning next Tuesday in San Isidro, Buenos Aires. The defendants face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if convicted.
The Tragic Events
Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, following brain surgery to treat a blood clot, after years of battling substance addiction.
He was found dead in his bed at a rented house in an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood, two weeks after being discharged from the hospital. The cause of death was later determined to be a heart attack.
Reports indicated that a night nurse noticed “warning signs” of distress but was instructed not to wake Maradona.
Maradona’s passing during the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread mourning across Argentina, with thousands lining up to pay their respects at the presidential palace.
The Accused
The trial will involve 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, requested to be tried separately, with her trial scheduled for July.
The Charges
The healthcare professionals are accused of providing “reckless” and “inadequate” home care to Maradona, leaving him to suffer alone for a prolonged period before his death.
A panel of 20 medical experts found in 2021 that Maradona had a better chance of survival with proper treatment in a medical facility.
The Defendants’ Defense
All accused deny responsibility for Maradona’s death. Cosachov’s lawyer, Vadim Mischanchuk, expressed confidence that his client would be acquitted, arguing that she was responsible only for Maradona’s mental health.
Maradona’s family has suggested that leaked messages and audio recordings indicate that the medical team tried to prevent Maradona’s daughters from intervening, fearing financial consequences if they did.
Maradona’s Legacy
Maradona’s memory is immortalized across Argentina in murals, statues, and tattoos. Soon, a mausoleum in Buenos Aires will honor the football legend, drawing up to a million visitors annually, with free access for Argentines.
His daughter Dalma Maradona shared a video showcasing the site, stating the desire for her father to be “close to the love of the people.”
[AFP]
