Swapped kidney tests won't change Maradona autopsy findings, experts say

Medical experts testifying in the trial over the death of football legend Diego Maradona insist that alleged errors in kidney test results do not warrant changing their conclusions about his health. The ongoing legal proceedings aim to determine responsibility for potential medical malpractice in the treatment of the late World Cup winner.

The trial, held in San Isidro, north of Buenos Aires, faced a significant interruption last week. The defense team raised concerns that the medical experts had been provided with test results that did not belong to Maradona but to his father, who shared the same name and passed away in 2015. Maradona himself died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020.

Following the defense's argument, the court ordered the seizure of Maradona's actual medical records. Reports indicate that the relevant health insurance provider has since acknowledged mistakenly transmitting incorrect data to the court-appointed experts. The current hearing is focused on whether this error could have influenced the expert commission's findings.

One of the medical experts, nephrologist Hernán Trimarchi, stated that the alleged mix-up would not alter his final diagnosis. He affirmed that Maradona suffered from a chronic kidney condition, and the newly revealed test results from his father, including creatinine levels, do not change this assessment. The court's initial expert report in 2021 had already suggested possible serious errors in Maradona's treatment.

Seven doctors and nurses are currently facing trial, accused of serious errors in the home care provided to the football star. All defendants deny the charges. A previous trial was declared void last year due to a judge's involvement in an unauthorized documentary about the proceedings.