Medical Professionals Who Advocated Against Home Arrest of Maradona Speak Out on His Passing
In the ongoing legal saga surrounding the death of iconic footballer Diego Maradona, this Tuesday sees the trial resuming at the Tribunal Oral en lo Criminal (TOC) N°3 of San Isidro. Seven medical professionals, including neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, face charges of culpable homicide (a charge comparable to involuntary manslaughter), potentially resulting in prison sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years.
A crucial aspect of the trial centers around accusations of medical negligence. Prosecutors contend that the home care arrangement, administered in Maradona's private residence in the San Andrés gated community, lacked essential medical equipment and supervision. Maradona, who had undergone brain surgery and was deemed a challenging patient due to his complex health history and addiction issues, should have received care in a rehabilitation clinic instead.
Despite these claims, Maradona's family lawyer, Fernando Burundo, asserts that the death was an intentional homicide, alleging that the medical team deliberately ignored life-threatening conditions, as evidenced by communications in which they seemingly referred to Maradona as "El Gordo is leaving, El Gordo is dying."
In this trial, over 100 witnesses, ranging from physicians to family members, will testify to Maradona's post-surgery care. Key points of contention include whether the medical team downplayed the risks associated with home hospitalization and whether systemic negligence constituted criminal conduct. A long-time physician has testified that home care was inappropriate, stating Maradona "should have gone to a rehabilitation clinic... a more protected place."
The court will scrutinize the testimonies of Diego Dimitroff, director of the Clínica Olivos, and Fernando Villarejo, head of the Intensive Care Unit, to understand their medical recommendations for Maradona's care, which were documented in an act signed on November 11, 2020, that clearly indicated medical discharge was not granted.
As the trial unfolds, the defense will seek to demonstrate that the outcome was inevitable despite the decisions made, while the prosecution will argue for deliberate negligent conduct on the part of the medical team. The resolution of this trial promises to shed light on the care Maradona received in his final days.
- The trial for the allegations of culpable homicide against the medical team treating Diego Maradona resumes at the Tribunal Oral en lo Criminal (TOC) N°3 of San Isidro.
- The suspicions of medical negligence towards Maradona, who had a complex health history, stem from his care being administered in his private residence rather than a rehabilitation clinic.
- The defense, led by Maradona's family lawyer Fernando Burundo, is disputing the charges of intentional homicide, alleging that the medical team deliberately ignored life-threatening medical-conditions.
- In this trial, approximately 100 witnesses, ranging from physicians to family members, will provide testimonies on Maradona's post-surgery care, discussing the adequacy of home hospitalization and the responsibility of the medical team.
- As the trial progresses, discussions about the care received by Maradona in his final days will continue to focus on the decisions made by key medical professionals like Diego Dimitroff and Fernando Villarejo, and whether they were influenced more by health-and-wellness considerations or sports' performance.
