Seven Medical Professionals to Stand Trial for Diego Maradona’s Death

Four years after the passing of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals are set to face trial over alleged negligence in his final days.

The four-month trial will begin on Tuesday, March 11, in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, with over 100 witnesses, including Maradona’s family and doctors, expected to testify. If convicted, the defendants face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.

Maradona, who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot. He was found lifeless in a rented home in Buenos Aires, where he had been placed following his hospital discharge two weeks prior. His death was attributed to a heart attack.

A night nurse assigned to his care reported noticing “warning signs” but claimed he had been ordered not to wake him up. His death, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to nationwide mourning, with thousands of fans paying their respects as his body lay in state at the presidential palace.

The accused include 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. A separate jury trial for another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, is scheduled for July.

Prosecutors claim that the medical team provided “reckless” and “deficient” home treatment, essentially abandoning Maradona to a prolonged, agonizing death. A 2021 medical panel concluded that he could have survived with proper care in a suitable medical facility.

While the defendants deny wrongdoing, leaked audio and text messages suggest they tried to prevent Maradona’s daughters from intervening in his care, allegedly to protect financial interests.

Maradona remains an Argentine legend, immortalized in murals, statues, and exhibitions. His family has announced plans for a mausoleum in Buenos Aires, expected to attract up to one million visitors annually.

“We want our father to be close to the love of the people,” said his daughter Dalma Maradona in a video presentation of the site.