The trial concerning Diego Maradona’s death will begin on March 11 in Buenos Aires, four years after his passing. Seven medical professionals face charges of negligence linked to his untimely demise, with potential prison sentences of 8 to 25 years if convicted. The case highlights allegations of inadequate medical care, with a notable report criticizing the treatment Maradona received. Defendants argue they are not responsible, while family members suggest the medical team was aware of his critical condition before his death.
How can it be said that ‘God’ is dead? After facing two postponements, the much-anticipated trial concerning Diego Maradona’s untimely demise is set to commence on Tuesday, March 11, in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires. Over four years have passed since the football legend’s passing, alone on a recovery bed, and now Argentinians may finally receive answers. Seven medical professionals will face charges of negligence that may have contributed to his death.
This trial is expected to unfold over several months, lasting until mid-July, with hearings scheduled three days a week. A staggering 120 witnesses are anticipated to testify, including family members, medical experts, and various doctors who attended to Maradona throughout the years, as reported by AFP. The accused are facing charges of ‘simple homicide with eventual intent’, which applies when an individual engages in negligent behavior knowing it could potentially result in someone’s death. If convicted, they could face prison sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years.
The Night Nurse’s Alarming Orders
Diego Armando Maradona tragically passed away due to a cardio-respiratory crisis on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, while recuperating in a private residence in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, following neurosurgery for a hematoma. It was reported that the night nurse had ‘received orders not to wake him’, and it was the day nurse who discovered him unresponsive later that morning.
The Argentine football icon, revered globally, battled numerous health issues including kidney failure, liver complications, heart problems, neurological decline, and dependencies on alcohol and psychotropic drugs.
Allegations of Inadequate Medical Care
Among those summoned to court are neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, clinician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna, and nurse Ricardo Almiron.
Nurse Dahiana Gisela Madrid will be tried separately in a popular jury trial, expected to commence in July. She contends that she merely followed the instructions given by the physicians. A scathing medical report released in mid-2021 indicated that the care provided to Maradona was ‘inadequate, deficient, and reckless’, resulting in a ‘prolonged period of agony’ for several hours before his lifeless body was discovered.
Defensive Claims from the Accused
The prosecution asserts that the medical team was ‘protagonists of an unprecedented, totally deficient, and reckless home hospitalization’, and had engaged in a ‘series of improvisations, management errors, and failures’. Judge Orlando Diaz, who is overseeing the trial, stated that ‘each of the accused, by their specific roles, would have exercised co-control over the circumstances’.
The defendants maintain they bear no responsibility for Maradona’s death, with many citing their specific medical specialties. For instance, psychiatrist Cosachov’s attorney, Vadim Mischanchuk, expressed to AFP that he is ‘very optimistic about an acquittal’. ‘My client was responsible for Maradona’s mental health, but he died of a cardiac event, so she should not be facing this trial’, he asserted.
In contrast, Maradona’s family has highlighted audio recordings and written messages that surfaced at the start of the investigation, suggesting that ‘it became evident that the medical team was aware that if Diego continued in this state, he would die’. Mario Baudry, the lawyer for Dieguito, one of Maradona’s sons, stated, ‘What they say in the audios and messages is an attempt to ensure that Diego’s daughters do not take him away, as that would jeopardize their financial interests’.