A trial is currently underway in Buenos Aires for seven members of the medical team that treated Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona before his untimely death in 2020. The health care professionals are facing accusations of contributing to Maradona’s death, which his family has labeled as a “medical mafia.”
Maradona, who was 60 years old, suffered a fatal heart attack at a house in Argentina where he was recuperating from surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain. The trial, expected to span several months, charges the medical team with homicide by negligence, a claim they have vehemently denied.
Despite Maradona’s long-standing struggles with drug addiction, obesity, and alcoholism, prosecutors believe that his death could have been prevented if not for the alleged negligence of his doctors. If found guilty, each member of the medical team could face up to 25 years in prison.
The lead neurologist and personal doctor, Leopoldo Luque, performed the surgery to remove Maradona’s brain blood clot on November 3, 2020. Questions arose regarding the swift discharge of Maradona from the hospital to a rental home, with many questioning whether he should have remained under medical supervision for a longer period.
Toxicology tests conducted after Maradona’s death did not detect alcohol or illegal drugs in his system. However, the report revealed the presence of psychotropic drugs used to treat anxiety and depression, which had been prescribed by psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, one of the defendants. The other members of the medical team facing charges include an addiction specialist, a home care doctor, a nursing coordinator, a nurse, and a clinical physician.
A medical board investigating Maradona’s death in early 2021 found that the medical team had acted inappropriately, deficiently, and recklessly. The board criticized the decision to release Maradona from the hospital prematurely, citing a lack of access to necessary medical equipment at his home.
The defendants have countered these allegations by portraying Maradona as a challenging patient who resisted treatment. Dr. Luque maintains that Maradona’s death was sudden and unexpected, occurring during sleep without any warning. He claims that Maradona himself had requested home hospitalization and recovery.
Over 100 witnesses, including doctors and family members, are expected to testify in the trial, which began on March 11 and is slated to last four months in the suburb of San Isidro. A three-judge appeals court will review evidence presented by the prosecution, which includes over 120,000 messages and audio recordings from private conversations among those responsible for Maradona’s care.
The trial continues to garner widespread attention as the world awaits justice for the beloved soccer icon, whose legacy transcends the sport.
