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Maradona argued with doctor before death, nutritionist testifies
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Health & Science

Maradona argued with doctor before death, nutritionist testifies

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Argentina's national football team nutritionist Luciano Spena testified about a heated argument between Diego Maradona and his doctor.
  • Spena recounted waiting outside Maradona's room while the footballer argued with neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque.
  • The visit was ultimately denied, and Maradona died a week later.

Luciano Spena, the nutritionist for Argentina's national football team, testified in the trial over Diego Maradona's death, recounting a tense encounter shortly before the football legend's passing. Spena, who was called to Maradona's home on November 18, 2020, along with clinical doctor Pedro Di Spagna, described waiting for access to the star.

Spena stated that they waited approximately 20 minutes for neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, who was considered Maradona's primary doctor, to grant them permission to see the patient. "We could hear arguments or shouts from the patient to Dr. Luque," Spena testified. "I remember looking at Pedro because the situation was strange; we were astonished."

About 30 minutes later, Luque emerged and informed Spena and Di Spagna that it "was not a good day to see Maradona." Despite their willingness to wait, their request was denied. They also attempted to visit the following day but were advised to postpone.

We could hear arguments or shouts from the patient to Dr. Luque. I remember looking at Pedro because the situation was strange; we were astonished.

— Luciano SpenaThe nutritionist describes the sounds heard from Maradona's room before being denied entry.

The prosecution presented a message from psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov to Nancy Forlini, a medical coordinator, suggesting the visit be postponed until Saturday to "give the situation some tranquility and not overload so much," adding that "there is no risk situation that warrants immediate intervention." However, Spena noted that they had availability to return sooner.

Maradona died a week later, on November 25, 2020, from acute lung edema and chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. Testimony throughout the trial has indicated Maradona was not following a specific diet and had lost his appetite in the days leading up to his death.

it was not a good day to see Maradona.

— Leopoldo LuqueDr. Luque's explanation for denying Spena and Di Spagna access to Maradona.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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