A medical board appointed to investigate the death of Diego Maradona has concluded that the football icon’s medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner,” according to a copy of the report shared with Reuters on Friday.
Maradona’s death in November last year rocked Argentina, where he was revered, and prompted a period of mourning and finger-pointing about who was to blame after his long battle with addiction and ill health.
Argentine prosecutors launched investigations shortly after Maradona’s death aged 60 from heart failure near Buenos Aires, including ordering searches of properties of his personal doctor and investigating others involved in his care.
Maradona had battled alcohol and drug addiction for many years and had brain surgery in November. In March, a medical board appointed by the Justice Ministry met to analyse allegations that members of Maradona’s health team did not treat him adequately.
“The action of the health team in charge of treating DAM (Diego Armando Maradona) was inadequate, deficient and reckless,” said the medical board report dated April 30, and shared with Reuters by a source close to the investigation. The report said Maradona had become seriously unwell around 12 hours before his death on November 25.
“He presented unequivocal signs of a prolonged agonizing period, so we conclude that the patient was not properly monitored from 00:30 on 11/25/2020,” the report said. Reuters could not reach prosecutors and lawyers involved in the case for comment on Friday.
