Eight medics are going to court over charges concerning criminal negligence in the death of Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona.
At the age of 60, Maradona died in November 2020 of a heart attack. A judge ordered a homicide trial after a medical panel found that Maradona’s treatment was full of “deficiencies and irregularities.”
A few days after his death, Argentine prosecutors ordered an investigation of the nurses and doctors involved in his care.
Last year, the 20 experts that examined his death concluded Maradona’s medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner”. concluded that Maradona “would have had a better chance of survival” with enough treatment in an appropriate medical facility, according to the court.
Among the people facing charges are Maradona’s neurosurgeon, personal doctor Leopoldo Luque, and six more. They have all denied the accusations.
All eight will be tried on a legal definition of homicide based on negligence committed knowing that it may lead to a person’s death.
The crime can place someone in jail for 8 to 25 years according to the Argentina Penal Code. The date of the trial has yet to be set.
The legal proceedings were prompted by a complaint filed by Maradona’s two daughters, raising concerns about their father’s treatment after the brain operation.
In an emotional press conference, Dr Luque cried, saying that he had done everything he could to save a friend.
At one point, Luque even retorted back at the reporters: You want to know what I am responsible for? For having loved him, for having taken care of him, for having extended his life, for having improved it to the end.” He said he did “everything he could, up to the impossible”.
Still, Maradona is dead and a legion of sorrowful fans wait in queues for hours, just to walk by his coffin at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
Over three days of national mourning, thousands of grieving fans trooped past the flag-draped coffin, eyes full of tears. There was a sense in Argentina that at age 60, Maradona was taken before his time. These investigations may at least provide some clarity and closure.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-61904976
At the age of 60, Maradona died in November 2020 of a heart attack. A judge ordered a homicide trial after a medical panel found that Maradona’s treatment was full of “deficiencies and irregularities.”
A few days after his death, Argentine prosecutors ordered an investigation of the nurses and doctors involved in his care.
Last year, the 20 experts that examined his death concluded Maradona’s medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner”. concluded that Maradona “would have had a better chance of survival” with enough treatment in an appropriate medical facility, according to the court.
Among the people facing charges are Maradona’s neurosurgeon, personal doctor Leopoldo Luque, and six more. They have all denied the accusations.
All eight will be tried on a legal definition of homicide based on negligence committed knowing that it may lead to a person’s death.
The crime can place someone in jail for 8 to 25 years according to the Argentina Penal Code. The date of the trial has yet to be set.
The legal proceedings were prompted by a complaint filed by Maradona’s two daughters, raising concerns about their father’s treatment after the brain operation.
In an emotional press conference, Dr Luque cried, saying that he had done everything he could to save a friend.
At one point, Luque even retorted back at the reporters: You want to know what I am responsible for? For having loved him, for having taken care of him, for having extended his life, for having improved it to the end.” He said he did “everything he could, up to the impossible”.
Still, Maradona is dead and a legion of sorrowful fans wait in queues for hours, just to walk by his coffin at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.
Over three days of national mourning, thousands of grieving fans trooped past the flag-draped coffin, eyes full of tears. There was a sense in Argentina that at age 60, Maradona was taken before his time. These investigations may at least provide some clarity and closure.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-61904976
