The trial of seven healthcare professionals involved in the final days of Diego Maradona is set to begin next week, four years after the legendary Argentine footballer’s death. Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, following brain surgery to address a blood clot, but he succumbed to a heart attack while recovering in a rented house. The case has drawn significant attention in Argentina, with over 100 witnesses, including Maradona’s family members and former doctors, set to testify.
The seven defendants—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—are accused of providing “reckless” and “deficient” home treatment to Maradona, leading to his premature death. Prosecutors allege that Maradona was abandoned during a crucial period of recovery and that he would have had a better chance of survival with adequate medical care.
The defendants face severe charges, with sentences ranging from eight to 25 years in prison if convicted. Another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, is set to stand trial separately in July.
The defense maintains that they are not responsible for Maradona’s death. For instance, Vadim Mischanchuk, the lawyer for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, has expressed confidence that Cosachov will be acquitted, pointing out that she was responsible for Maradona’s mental health and not his physical health. However, Maradona’s family claims that leaked messages and audio show that the medical team had been aware of his deteriorating health but deliberately prevented his daughters from intervening to protect their financial interests.
Maradona’s passing caused nationwide mourning in Argentina, with tens of thousands of people gathering to pay their respects. Despite his tragic end, Maradona remains an enduring figure in Argentina’s cultural and sporting landscape, immortalized in murals, statues, and tattoos. His family is also creating a mausoleum in his honor, a 1,000-square-meter site in Buenos Aires, set to become a significant tourist attraction.
As the trial begins, the question of responsibility for Maradona’s untimely death remains at the forefront, and the public awaits the verdict on the accused medical professionals.
