02 May,2021 08:07 AM IST | Buenos Aires | AFP
Argentine former football star late Diego Maradona. Pic/AFP
Argentine football icon Diego Maradona received inadequate medical care and was left to his fate for a "prolonged, agonizing period" before he died last year, an expert medical panel concluded on Friday.
In a 70-page document, the panel stated that Maradona, who succumbed to a heart attack on November 25 at the age of 60, "started to die at least 12 hours before" the moment he was found dead in his bed. Maradona died just weeks after undergoing brain surgery on a blood clot.
A panel of 20 experts was convened by Argentina's public prosecutor to examine the cause of death and to determine if there had been any negligence. Maradona's neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz are under investigation as well as two nurses, a nursing coordinator and a medical coordinator.
ALSO READ
Football great Maradona’s children unveil memorial site plans
Maradona’s heirs to sue over auction of stolen trophy
Maradona’s children want to shift his body from cemetery to mausoleum
Late Maradona’s medical report aims to undercut homicide case against medics
Brazil pays tributes to Pelé one year after his death
The finding could result in a case of wrongful death, and a prison sentence of up to 15 years if convicted. The legal proceedings were prompted by a complaint filed by two of Maradona's five daughters against Luque, whom they blamed for their father's deteriorating condition after the brain operation.
Maradona underwent surgery on November 3, just four days after he celebrated his 60th birthday at the club he coached, Gimnasia y Esgrima. However, he appeared in poor health then, and had trouble speaking.
Maradona had battled cocaine and alcohol addictions during his life. He was suffering from liver, kidney and cardiovascular disorders when he died. They also found that his treatment was rife with "deficiencies and irregularities" and the medical team had left his survival "to fate". Sebastian Sanchi, a former spokesman for Maradona, told AFP, "it is clear that the panel says that things were not done right."
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
