Buenos Aires, Argentina — A court in Argentina has commenced the trial of seven healthcare professionals charged with negligence in the death of legendary soccer player Diego Maradona at the age of 60. Maradona suffered a cardiac arrest while under the care of these professionals in a house outside Buenos Aires on November 25, 2020.
The trial, which began on Tuesday, involves accusations of alleged homicide by negligence against the medical team that treated Maradona. Among those charged are a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and several medical staff members. If found guilty, the maximum jail time they could face is 25 years.
Prosecutors argue that the accused professionals failed to provide adequate medical care to Maradona. They claim that between November 11-25, 2020, Maradona was taken to a house in a private neighborhood in Tigre, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, without being in a position to make informed decisions about his home hospitalization.
Members of Maradona’s family, including his daughters Dalma and Giannina, were present at the courtroom for the trial’s opening. Maradona’s ex-partner, Verónica Ojeda, and another daughter, Jana, were also in attendance.
The trial is anticipated to last up to four months, with three hearings scheduled per week. The focus is on neurosurgeon Leonardo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician for the last four years of his life, who performed surgery to remove a blood clot from Maradona’s brain shortly before his passing.
In addition to Dr. Luque, six other professionals are on trial, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, medical coordinator, nursing service representative, monitoring doctor, and nurse. The trial of another nurse, Gisela Madrid, is set to take place separately later this year.
Outside the courthouse, fans of Maradona gathered, holding banners calling for justice. The courtroom scenes were emotional, with Maradona’s family and supporters seeking accountability for his untimely death.
As the trial progresses, new details and testimonies are expected to shed light on the events leading up to Maradona’s passing. The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching implications for the medical professionals involved in his care.