Dalma Maradona testified before the court in San Isidro, Argentina, in the trial concerning the circumstances of her father Diego Maradona's death. The eldest daughter of the former Albiceleste captain denounced the irresponsibility of the medical team responsible for his home recovery in 2020, following surgery for a hematoma. She explained that the family had agreed to this home hospitalization because a comprehensive plan had been announced: medical equipment, nursing staff, organized follow-up care, and an ambulance available at all times.
The missing ambulance
At the heart of her testimony, Dalma Maradona recounted an incident that occurred during her father's convalescence, when he allegedly suffered from food poisoning. According to her, Diego Maradona's daughters requested an ambulance transfer. It was at this point that they discovered no ambulance was available. Dalma summarized the scene by stating that "No one was taking charge of the situation." For Maradona's daughter, this absence changes everything. She stated that the family would not have opted for home hospitalization had they known that the promised guarantees were not in place. Given her father's health condition, the presence of an ambulance was, in her opinion, essential.
Luque directly targeted
Dalma Maradona also identified neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque as one of the key figures in her father's medical care. According to her testimony, he was clearly identified, during discussions with the family and caregivers, as the man in charge of Diego Maradona's health. She also named psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz as members of the treatment team. Another defendant, Nancy Forlini, coordinator for the healthcare provider Swiss Medical, confirmed that Luque and Cosachov were considered the attending physicians responsible for requesting necessary services: treatments, equipment, or an ambulance. She stated that only limited requests were made, including nursing care and a weekly medical visit.
Seven professionals on trial
Seven healthcare professionals are on trial in this case for "homicide with implied malice," a charge encompassing negligence committed with knowledge of the potential for fatal consequences. They face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The defendants deny the charges against them. The current trial began in mid-April 2026. It follows an initial trial that was dismissed in 2025 after a judicial scandal linked to a judge's participation in a documentary about the case. The hearings are being held in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, and are expected to continue for several weeks.
A death at the heart of an explosive case
As a reminder, Diego Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, in a rented house in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, where he was continuing his recovery. His death occurred after a cardiorespiratory crisis associated with pulmonary edema. The legal case focuses on the conditions of this home hospitalization, which the prosecution deems inappropriate for the condition of the 1986 World Cup champion. The defense, for its part, maintains that Maradona's death was linked to his overall health, marked by a serious medical history. The court will have to determine whether the professionals being prosecuted failed in their duty of care and whether these failures contributed to the death of the Argentine icon.
