Seven medical professionals are accused of providing “reckless” and “deficient” treatment to Maradona, who died in November 2020.
Four years after the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals will stand trial, accused of negligence during his final days.
More than 100 witnesses, including members of Maradona’s family and doctors who treated him over the years, will testify during the four-month trial, which begins on Tuesday in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro.
The seven defendants face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if convicted.
Diego Armando Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot. He had battled cocaine and alcohol addictions for decades.
He was found dead in bed at a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood, where he had been brought after being discharged from the hospital two weeks post-surgery.
It was determined that he died of a heart attack.
The night nurse reportedly noticed some “warning signs” but stated he had “received orders not to wake him up.”
Maradona’s death, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, plunged Argentina into deep mourning.
Tens of thousands of people lined up to pay their respects as his body lay in state at the presidential palace.
Who are the main accused?
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 will all stand trial next week.
Another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, has opted for a separate trial by jury, which is scheduled for July.
Prosecutors have accused the medical professionals of providing “reckless” and “deficient” home treatment to Maradona, alleging he was abandoned to his fate for a “prolonged, agonizing period” before his death.
A panel of 20 medical experts convened by Argentina’s public prosecutor concluded in 2021 that Maradona “would have had a better chance of survival” with adequate treatment in an appropriate medical facility.
The investigating magistrate stated that each of the accused played a role in the events leading to Maradona’s death.
All the accused deny any responsibility for the star’s death.
Vadim Mischanchuk, lawyer for psychiatrist Cosachov, expressed optimism for an acquittal, emphasizing that his client was responsible for Maradona’s mental rather than physical health.
What are the charges?
Maradona’s family claims that leaked audio and text messages show the star’s health was in imminent danger, according to Mario Baudry, a lawyer for Maradona’s son Dieguito.
Baudry stated that the messages revealed the medical team’s strategy was to prevent Maradona’s daughters from intervening, “because if they did, they [the medical staff] would lose their money.”
Maradona’s legacy is immortalized in countless murals, statues, and exhibitions across Argentina, as well as in the tattoos worn by his legion of fans.
He will also soon have a mausoleum on a 1,000-square-meter (11-square-foot) site in the heart of Buenos Aires.
“We want our father to be close to the love of the people,” his daughter Dalma Maradona said in a video presentation of the site, which is expected to receive up to a million visitors annually and will be free of charge for Argentinians.
For the latest updates and more news, visit ZTC News and ZNews Today. Stay informed with our trusted sources!