Sports
The trial concerning the death of Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona has witnessed a significant development, with new medical testimony suggesting that his passing in 2020 was the result of a "sudden and unexpected" event, which could not have been foreseen given the good condition of his heart. Cardiologist Ricardo Iglesias provided this testimony as one of the last witnesses called by the defense in the ongoing trial of seven healthcare professionals. These individuals are accused of medical negligence believed to have caused Maradona's death in November 2020, during his recovery from head surgery. The trial, which commenced in mid-April, has now reached its forty-third session and is in its final stages. Closing arguments from the prosecution and civil parties are anticipated to begin on October 8. Over recent weeks, medical experts have presented conflicting opinions. While some argue that numerous clinical signs should have alerted the medical team responsible for Maradona's care at home, others assert that his death was neither predictable nor preventable. In this context, Dr. Iglesias clarified that Maradona, who was 60 years old, "suffered an acute heart attack resulting from a cardiac arrhythmia, which led to his death." He emphasized that "acute sudden heart attacks are unexpected, and there was absolutely no indication that his end would come in this manner." Iglesias categorically denied the hypothesis put forward by other experts, which suggested that Maradona experienced severe pain for several hours before being found dead in his bed on the morning of November 25. He added that the 1986 Mexico World Cup hero did not suffer from any active heart problems in 2020, noting that his cessation of drug use, which had caused him health issues in 2000, allowed his heart to return to its previous normal state. The cardiologist reiterated this, stating: "His heart is completely healthy. I find no evidence of a long period of suffering." It is worth noting that Iglesias was a member of the multidisciplinary medical committee formed by the court in 2021 to investigate Maradona's death, but he presented an opinion that differed from its conclusions. Prior to this testimony, José Antonio Maia, an internist specializing in complex diseases, gave his testimony, which was cited by the chief defendant Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's trusted doctor at the time. Luque had previously indicated that Maradona underwent numerous cardiac examinations before various surgeries, which "proved his anesthesia risk was low. He was not a patient at high cardiac risk." The defendants in this case face potential prison sentences of up to 25 years.
