The trial surrounding Diego Maradona's death continues to bring to light damning testimonies. Jana Maradona, one of the daughters of the former Argentine champion, accused her father's personal physician of pressuring the family to accept home hospitalization after his brain surgery, despite their reservations about this option.
According to his testimony, the decision was made in early November 2020, during a family meeting with several healthcare professionals. Diego Maradona had just undergone neurosurgery to treat a subdural hematoma. The issue at hand was to determine the conditions of his convalescence: whether to remain in a medical facility or continue his care in a specially adapted residence.
"I trusted them." Jana Maradona's regret
Jana Maradona explained that she believed the assurances given to the family. Home hospitalization was presented as a serious solution, with continuous monitoring, 24-hour care, and the possibility for doctors to intervene as often as necessary. But she now claims that this decision was decisive in what followed. According to her, Diego Maradona's doctor insisted on avoiding a rehabilitation clinic, believing that the former player would not accept it and that this option would expose the facility to too much media attention. The daughter of the Argentine legend stated "I trusted them."Speaking about the explanations given at the time, she now expresses deep regret for this choice, which she considers to be one of the factors that led to her father's death.
A convalescence deemed insufficiently supervised
The trial is revisiting the conditions under which Diego Maradona was cared for during his final days. Several elements are being examined: the level of medical supervision, the equipment available on site, the organization of care, and the professionals' response to the former footballer's condition. The court is seeking to determine whether the home care provided was appropriate for his state. The debates focus in particular on the fact that Maradona, having recently undergone surgery and being in a weakened state, would have required a better-equipped facility and closer monitoring.
Seven healthcare professionals implicated
Seven healthcare professionals are being prosecuted in this case, including doctors, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and nurses. They are suspected of negligence that may have contributed to Diego Maradona's death. All face severe penalties if found guilty. The trial will determine whether the decisions made regarding his recovery constituted medical errors, gross negligence, or a series of poor choices with fatal consequences.
A solitary death, after several hours of agony.
As a reminder, Diego Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, from a cardiorespiratory crisis associated with pulmonary edema. He was at the time in the residence he had rented for his convalescence. Forensic pathologists estimated that he could have been in agony for approximately twelve hours before being found dead the following morning by a nurse. This detail reinforces questions about the level of care he received and the medical team's ability to detect any deterioration in his condition.
