The daughter of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has accused his medical team of negligence, asserting in court that her father’s death “would have been avoided” if doctors had fulfilled their duties.
Maradona, who died at 60 on November 25, 2020, was recovering at home from brain surgery to treat a blood clot. He had a well-documented history of addiction to cocaine and alcohol. His sudden passing shocked the world and sparked investigations into the circumstances surrounding his care in his final days.
Eight individuals, including his neurosurgeon Dr. Leopoldo Luque, are now standing trial in San Isidro, Buenos Aires. They face charges of “homicide with possible intent,” a serious offense in Argentina that carries a potential prison sentence of up to 25 years. Prosecutors describe Maradona’s final days as a “horror theater,” alleging he was abandoned and left in agony for a prolonged period.
Testifying in court, 38-year-old Dalma Maradona did not hold back in her condemnation of the medical team. “If they had done their job, this would have been avoided,” she stated. Dalma recounted how Dr. Luque had insisted that home care was the “only option” and promised comprehensive support, including 24-hour medical attention and an on-call ambulance promises she said were never fulfilled.
Describing the home where Maradona spent his final days as “disgusting” and reeking of urine, Dalma also claimed she was barred from visiting her father shortly before his death by his lawyer and assistant. She accused the team of deceiving the family “in the cruelest way.”
Maradona was found to have died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs. The trial, which has been delayed for years, is expected to run until July and will hear testimony from nearly 120 witnesses.
As Argentina continues to mourn the loss of one of its greatest icons, the court proceedings may finally reveal whether Diego Maradona’s death was a tragic inevitability or a preventable failure of care.
