New Medical Testimony: Maradona's Heart Was Healthy, Death Unexpected

A cardiologist testified in the trial of Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona, affirming his death resulted from a "sudden and unexpected" event, unforeseeable given his healthy heart. Dr. Ricardo Iglesias, a final defense witness, is appearing before the court in the case against seven healthcare professionals. They are accused of medical negligence believed to have caused Maradona's death in November 2020, following head surgery. The trial began mid-April, holding its forty-third session on Thursday. It is now in its final stages, with closing arguments by prosecution and civil parties expected to commence on October 8. Medical experts presented conflicting opinions in recent weeks. Some believe the team caring for Maradona should have noticed numerous clinical signs, while others assert his death was unpredictable and unavoidable. Dr. Iglesias stated Maradona, aged 60, "suffered an acute cardiac arrest from a heart rhythm disorder, leading to his death. These sudden arrests are unexpected, with no prior indicators." Iglesias unequivocally denied the hypothesis that Maradona endured severe pain for hours before being found dead in his bed on the morning of November 25. He affirmed the 1986 Mexico World Cup hero had no active heart problems in 2020. His cessation of drug use in 2000, which caused previous health issues, allowed his heart to return to normal. Iglesias stressed: "His heart is completely healthy. I find no evidence suggesting prolonged suffering." Iglesias was a member of the multidisciplinary medical committee formed by the court in 2021 to investigate Maradona's death, but his opinion diverged from its conclusions. Prior to this, José Antonio Maya, an internal medicine specialist, gave testimony cited by main defendant Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's trusted doctor at the time. Luque also stated Maradona underwent numerous cardiac exams before various surgeries, which "proved his anesthesia risk was low. He was not a patient at high cardiac risk." The defendants face prison sentences potentially reaching 25 years.