Maradona doctor faces up to 12 years in prison as prosecutors condemn ‘chaotic’ care before legend’s death

San Isidro, October 9 — Argentine prosecutors have accused the chaotic medical team that treated football legend Diego Maradona at the time of his death of providing substandard care, potentially warranting prison sentences up to 12 years for each of the seven medical professionals on trial. Maradona, 60, passed away from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema after surgery for a brain clot on November 25, 2020, at a rented home in Buenos Aires’ Tigre suburb.

Seven medical personnel, including Maradona’s chief doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, and nurses, are charged with "dolo eventual," a legal term referring to actions performed knowingly that could cause harm. Prosecutor Patricio Ferrai argued that their "chaotic organisation" left the ailing patient "in a helpless situation, abandoning him to his fate."

The defendants deny the charges and claim Maradona’s death was unforeseeable. Prosecutors presented shocking images of the former footballer, his stomach grotesquely swollen, to underscore the gravity of the case. The trial is expected to conclude with a verdict at a later date.