AN APPEALS COURT in Argentina has confirmed that eight medical professionals will stand trial for their alleged involvement in the death of football legend Diego Maradona.
The accused, including neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, had appealed against the initial decision to try them for homicide with potential aggravating circumstances.
The trial is expected to commence in the future, with no set date yet.
Maradona died in November 2020 at the age of 60, while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot.
He was discovered dead in bed two weeks after the operation, at a rented house in an exclusive neighborhood in Buenos Aires. A heart attack was identified as the cause of his death.
The eight defendants had argued that they should only be charged with 'involuntary homicide', which holds a person accountable for negligence while being unaware of the potential consequences, reports the Buenos Aires Times.
Eight healthcare professionals will stand trial for their alleged role in the 2020 death of legendary footballer and national icon Diego Maradona, an appeals court has ruled.https://t.co/m5TSwNXWyv
— Buenos Aires Times (@theBAtimes) April 18, 2023
However, prosecutors allege that the medical professionals were involved in “reckless” and “deficient” home treatment of Maradona.
In 2021, a panel of 20 medical experts appointed by Argentina’s public prosecutor concluded that Maradona would have had a better chance of survival with adequate treatment in an appropriate medical facility. The accused include a psychologist, a clinical doctor, a medical coordinator, nursing coordinator, and nurses.
Maradona was a celebrated football player and national icon in Argentina, but struggled with cocaine and alcohol addictions for decades.
The trial of the eight medical professionals will determine their role in his death and any potential consequences if found guilty.
If found guilty the eight accused face from up to eight to twenty five years in jail.
