The highly anticipated trial of seven healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of football legend Diego Maradona is set to commence in July. The trial, taking place in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro, will scrutinize the actions of a neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, medical coordinator, nursing coordinator, doctor, and nurse. These individuals face serious charges related to Maradona's care before his untimely death on November 25, 2020. If convicted, they risk sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years in prison.
Prosecutors have accused the medical team of providing "reckless" and "deficient" home treatment. They allege that Maradona was left in a prolonged state of agony, with his health deteriorating due to a lack of adequate medical attention. A panel of 20 medical experts determined in 2021 that Maradona's chances of survival would have significantly improved with proper care in a hospital setting.
The trial is expected to span four months and feature testimonies from over 100 witnesses, including members of Maradona's family and other doctors who treated him over the years. The prosecution claims that leaked audio and text messages reveal the medical team's strategy to prevent Maradona's daughters from intervening in his care—a move allegedly motivated by financial interests.
Maradona passed away at the age of 60 while recuperating from brain surgery for a blood clot. He had been discharged from the hospital two weeks after the surgery and was receiving treatment at a rented house in an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood. His death stunned Argentina, prompting national mourning as tens of thousands lined up to pay their respects while his body lay in state at the presidential palace.
In a bid to honor Maradona's legacy, plans are underway for a mausoleum to be constructed on a 1,000-square-metre site in central Buenos Aires. The mausoleum is expected to draw up to a million visitors annually and will be open to Argentines free of charge.
"We want our father to be close to the love of the people"
— Dalma Maradona
