The trial is underway at the San Isidro Court in Buenos Aires, where seven doctors involved in the care of Diego Maradona during his final days are facing charges of medical negligence. Yesterday, one of the doctors testified that it was a mistake to send Maradona home after his brain surgery.
Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, two weeks after undergoing brain surgery. He spent his final days in a rented house in an upscale area of Buenos Aires. The house was converted into a “home hospital” to provide care for him. Maradona’s daughters, Dalma and Giannina, through their lawyer Fernando Burlando, previously claimed that the house was unsuitable for a patient, describing it as “like a pigsty” and “one of the dirtiest places ever seen.”
During yesterday’s testimony, Maradona’s long-time doctor, Mario Alejandro Seiter, said that Maradona should have gone to a rehabilitation clinic, which would have been a safer place for him. Earlier in the trial, forensic pathologist Mauricio Casiniello, who participated in Maradona’s autopsy, described the house where Maradona died as “inappropriate for a home hospital.”
Mario Alejandro Seiter, who treated Maradona for his drug addiction, testified that, based on his knowledge of the patient, he would not have recommended home treatment for Maradona. “It was not easy to handle him. I’m speaking from experience during the worst time of his life,” Seiter said.
A total of eight people were involved in Maradona’s care during his final days. Seven of them are facing charges for negligence, including a neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, medical coordinator, nurse coordinator, a doctor, and a night shift nurse. The case alleges that their failure to provide adequate care led to Maradona’s death. The trial began last month.
Seiter further clarified that he was a consultant and had no authority to make decisions regarding Maradona’s treatment. The clinic’s directors informed him that they had decided to continue the treatment at home.
Previously, in an interview on Argentina’s El Trece channel, lawyer Fernando Burlando claimed that it was proven that the medical team could have done something to help Maradona. “They even spoke about it, saying, ‘El Gordo (Fatty) is leaving, El Gordo is dying,'” he said.
Witnesses in the trial have testified that the house where Maradona was taken lacked essential medical equipment.
During the autopsy, Mario Alejandro Seiter was involved and testified that all evidence pointed to Maradona’s heart attack being caused by the failure to provide adequate medical care. The autopsy report stated that “severe pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and heart failure” were the causes of death.
If the allegations are proven, the guilty parties could face prison sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years. Approximately 120 people are expected to testify, and the trial may continue until July.
