Diego Maradona’s former neurosurgeon told a Buenos Aires court that the football legend was “very difficult” to treat and refused essential medical advice before his death. His statement was part of the ongoing trial of seven healthcare workers charged with criminal negligence.
The 60-year-old icon passed away on November 25, 2020, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, just two weeks after undergoing brain surgery for a blood clot. At the time, Maradona was recovering in a rented house in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires, rather than a medical facility — a key issue now under legal scrutiny.
Dr. Rodolfo Benvenuti, who supervised Maradona’s surgery, told the court he struggled to persuade the patient to undergo basic procedures such as a CT scan. He described Maradona as “defiant” and unwilling to remain in the hospital post-surgery, insisting on home care instead. According to the surgeon, Maradona’s health required daily monitoring by a doctor, but his caregivers only scheduled weekly visits. One of those visits never happened because Maradona refused to be seen.
The football legend was eventually found lifeless in his bed by a nurse. Prosecutors allege that the team responsible for his care operated under grossly negligent conditions and describe the situation as a “horror theater.” If convicted of “homicide with possible intent,” the defendants could face prison sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years.
The trial, taking place in San Isidro, began on March 11 and is expected to continue until July.
