Two psychiatrists who analyzed Maradona's death to testify in trial

The trial surrounding the death of football icon Diego Armando Maradona is set to hear testimony from two psychiatrists who analyzed the circumstances of his passing. José Luis Covelli and Enrique Gallego, both psychiatrists, will appear in court on Thursday as part of their involvement in the 2021 Interdisciplinary Medical Board convened to examine Maradona's death.

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The board concluded that "strict medical and biochemical monitoring should have been guaranteed to the patient, which would not only detect small harmful effects that these could produce, but also prevent them."

The medical experts had access to the investigation's findings, Maradona's medical history, and his autopsy results. Their mandate included determining if the medications administered to the legendary player could have caused adverse effects or complications related to his cardiac condition. The board concluded that Maradona required strict medical and biochemical monitoring to prevent and detect any harmful effects from his psychiatric drugs.

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Admitting Maradona into a specialized addiction treatment center "would have been the most appropriate course of action."

Furthermore, the board suggested that admitting Maradona into a specialized addiction treatment center "would have been the most appropriate course of action." This comes after other specialists have provided testimony. Nephrologist Hernán Trimarchi stated Maradona suffered from "chronic kidney failure," while toxicologist Carlos Damin affirmed that the psychiatric medication for Maradona's alcohol withdrawal was "adequate." However, Damin noted the absence of hypertensive or cardiological medication and a clinical or cardiologist physician on his care team.

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Maradona had "chronic kidney failure."

Damin detailed that Maradona was taking approximately seven medications before his death, with at least three potentially causing side effects given his liver cirrhosis and kidney function. Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at his home from pulmonary edema due to chronic cardiomyopathy, exacerbated by heart failure, according to the autopsy. The current trial involves neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Díaz, doctor Nancy Forlini, Dr. Pedro Di Spagna, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, and nurse Ricardo Almirón, all facing charges of simple homicide with eventual intent.

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The psychiatric medication with which Maradona was being treated for his alcohol abstinence "was adequate," but the problem was the lack of "hypertensive or cardiological medication, nor did he have a (medical) clinician, he did not have a cardiologist."