An appeals court in Argentina has confirmed that a group of eight medical professionals, among them neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, will be tried for the death of soccer icon Diego Maradona. The court upheld a 2022 ruling that charged the group with homicide, which may involve aggravating circumstances. The trial will proceed as scheduled.
Diego Maradona, who had a history of struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction, passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60 while in the process of recovering from brain surgery to remove a blood clot. He was discovered deceased in his bed two weeks after the surgical procedure at a rented property located in a posh neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where he had been staying following his release from the hospital.
His death was determined to be a heart attack. The eight defendants had challenged the severity of the accusations to the court in San Isidro, northwest of Buenos Aires, saying they should have been charged with involuntary homicide.
Did you read this?
8 medical professionals are set to stand trial in the death of Diego Maradona after being accused of simple homicide. pic.twitter.com/FvVj1JqrMt
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 19, 2023
The basic charge of "dolus eventualis" homicide holds a person accountable for negligence while aware that such behaviour could result in death.
Prosecutors accused the medical professionals of being involved in "reckless" and "deficient" home treatment of a patient.
In 2021, a group of 20 medical experts assembled by Argentina's public prosecutor concluded that Diego Maradona could have had a higher chance of survival had he received appropriate treatment in a suitable medical facility. The trial date for the case has not been determined yet. The individuals facing charges include a clinical doctor, a medical coordinator, a nursing coordinator, nurses, and a psychologist.
