Judge of San Isidro in the Buenos Aires province opened the case this Wednesday to verbally assess the death of Diego Maradona, examining eight people linked to his medical care under a charge of simple murder with intent. The courtroom action marks another chapter in a long-running investigation that has kept public attention across Argentina and beyond.
The eight individuals questioned include neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Díaz, physician Nancy Forlini, who coordinated home care, and Mariano Perroni, the coordinator of the nursing team. Also questioned were nurse Ricardo Omar Almirón, nurse Dahiana Gisela Madrid, and a clinician identified as Pedro Di Spagna. The proceedings have been described in several outlets as an effort to determine whether negligence or reckless behavior contributed to Maradona’s death. In the local press, the case has been framed as a critical inquiry into responsibility for medical decisions surrounding the former football star. [citation needed]
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60. An autopsy conducted on the body of Argentina’s iconic former captain and coach concluded that the death resulted from acute pulmonary edema due to exacerbation of chronic heart failure. A pathologist’s report also noted the presence of a dilated heart and signs of cardiomyopathy, which are serious conditions that can complicate treatment. The findings have been cited by officials and medical experts in ongoing discussions about the circumstances surrounding his final days. [citation needed]
Maradona’s health history, including earlier battles with alcohol use and acute illnesses, has been part of the overall context of the case. Public records indicate that in the weeks leading up to his death he faced several medical challenges, and his medical team faced questions about how care was delivered and whether adequate monitoring was in place. Reports from the time of his death describe an initial hospital admission in early November 2020 for anemia and dehydration, followed by a transfer to a sanatorium in Olivos, Buenos Aires, where he underwent subdural hematoma surgery a day later. He was discharged on November 11 and moved to a private residence on the outskirts of Buenos Aires before passing away on November 25. [citation needed]