Four years after the shocking death of football icon Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals are set to stand trial in Argentina, accused of gross negligence that allegedly led to his untimely demise.
The high-profile case, which begins next Tuesday in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, has ignited fierce debate, with prosecutors alleging Maradona was “abandoned to his fate” in his final days. The accused— including his neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, and nursing staff—face potential sentences ranging from eight to 25 years in prison if convicted.
A Tragic End or Medical Malpractice?
Maradona, revered as one of the greatest footballers in history, passed away on November 25, 2020, at age 60. He had been recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot, but his long history of cocaine and alcohol abuse raised concerns about his fragile condition. Found lifeless in a rented house in an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood, his official cause of death was a heart attack.
However, damning evidence has since emerged. A night nurse admitted noticing “warning signs” but claimed he was ordered “not to wake him up.” A panel of medical experts later concluded that Maradona “would have had a better chance of survival” if he had received proper medical attention.
Who’s on Trial?
Facing the heat are 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 trial for another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, is scheduled for July.
Justice or Scapegoating?
Prosecutors argue that the medical team displayed “reckless” and “deficient” behavior, effectively condemning Maradona to a prolonged, agonizing death. The accusations have sparked outrage in Argentina, where the football legend remains a near-religious figure.
However, the defendants vehemently deny wrongdoing. The lawyer for psychiatrist Cosachov insists his client is being unfairly targeted, arguing that she was responsible only for Maradona’s mental health—not his physical well-being.
A Nation Watches
As the trial begins, the case has divided opinion. Were Maradona’s doctors negligent, or are they being scapegoated for the inevitable decline of a man whose body had already endured years of abuse? With over 100 witnesses set to testify, the next four months could redefine how medical responsibility is judged—especially when it comes to larger-than-life figures like Maradona.
