Four years after the passing of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals are set to stand trial next week on charges of negligence in his final days.
Over 100 witnesses, including Maradona’s family members and former doctors, are expected to testify during the four-month trial, beginning Tuesday in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires.
The Defendants and Potential Sentences
The 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—face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if found guilty.
Another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, has requested a separate jury trial, scheduled for July.
Maradona’s Final Days
Diego Maradona, aged 60, passed away on November 25, 2020, from a heart attack while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot. Decades of struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction had taken a toll on his health.
He was found dead in bed at a rented house in an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood, where he had been recovering after being discharged from the hospital two weeks earlier.
A night nurse reported observing “warning signs” but claimed to have “received orders not to wake him up.”
Maradona’s death, occurring amid the Covid-19 pandemic, left Argentina in mourning. Tens of thousands paid their respects as his body lay in state at the presidential palace.
Prosecution’s Allegations
Prosecutors argue that the medical team provided “reckless” and “inadequate” home care, alleging that Maradona was abandoned to endure a “prolonged, agonizing period” before his death.
A 2021 medical panel convened by Argentina’s public prosecutor concluded that Maradona might have survived with proper treatment in an appropriate facility.
The investigating magistrate noted that each defendant played a role in the alleged negligence.
Defense Stance
The accused deny responsibility for Maradona’s death. Vadim Mischanchuk, lawyer for psychiatrist Cosachov, expressed confidence in an acquittal, emphasizing that his client was responsible for Maradona’s mental, not physical, health.
Maradona’s family claims leaked audio and text messages reveal that the medical team was aware of his deteriorating condition but prioritized financial gain over his well-being.
Maradona’s Legacy
Maradona’s memory lives on in murals, statues, exhibitions, and tattoos across Argentina. Plans are underway for a 1,000-square-meter mausoleum in Buenos Aires, expected to attract up to a million visitors annually.
“We want our father to be close to the love of the people,” said his daughter, Dalma Maradona, during a video presentation of the project, which will be free for Argentines.