Buenos Aires:
Diego Maradona’s private doctor denied by means of his lawyer Monday any duty for the football icon’s death, in which he and six other well being care workers are getting investigated for manslaughter, and requested a new health-related board be assigned to the case.
Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, 39, appeared just before Buenos Aires prosecutors to answer to claims that he and other caregivers had neglected Maradona in his final days, precipitating his death.
“Luque has nothing to feel guilty for,” the doctor’s defense lawyer Julio Rivas stated at the finish of Monday’s hearing close to Buenos Aires.
“What he said was simply that he was always concerned with Maradona’s health, and every time he was called for any issue, he went and helped him. He was his family doctor, but not in charge of his home care.”
Maradona, 60, was located dead in bed last November, two weeks just after the surgery, in a rented residence in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood to exactly where he was brought just after getting discharged from hospital.
He was located to have died of a heart attack.
“I see no responsibility either in Agustina or in Leo” for Maradona’s death, Rivas stated of Luque and co-accused psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, 36.
According to Luque’s lawyers, two private well being care corporations bear that duty.
But other members of the group have stated the duo was in charge of the retired footballer’s care.
– ‘Agonizing’ finish –
A panel of 20 health-related specialists convened by Argentina’s public prosecutor stated last month that Maradona’s therapy was rife with “deficiencies and irregularities.”
But Luque’s lawyers took problem with the report Monday and insisted there have been no clinical research that indicated heart challenges for Maradona just before his death.
Four checkups involving 2019 and 2020 that incorporated cardiology testing have been “perfect,” Rivas stated, as Luque asked for a new health-related assessment board for the case.
The 20-member panel concluded the footballer “would have had a better chance of survival” with sufficient therapy in an proper health-related facility.
The board located the group had supplied inadequate care and abandoned the idolized player to his fate for a “prolonged, agonizing period.”
A judge will next determine no matter if to order a trial, in a procedure that could take years. The suspects threat involving eight and 25 years in jail if located guilty.
An investigation was opened following a complaint filed by two of Maradona’s 5 children against Luque, whom they blame for their father’s deterioration just after the operation.
Luque, who has described the sporting legend as a buddy, arrived at the prosecutor’s workplace in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, in a dark suit and tie and dark glasses an hour just before the hearing Monday.
His questioning closes a two-week procedure of interrogation. He and the other six have appeared one by one to defend themselves against the accusations.
– ‘I did my best’ –
Luque, 39, has repeatedly denied guilt and not too long ago stated, “I’m proud of what I did” to help the patient, denying he had abandoned him.
“I did my best. I offered Diego everything I could: some things he accepted, others not,” he stated in a current interview.
The medical doctor stated Maradona had been depressed in his final days.
“I know that the (coronavirus) quarantine hit him very hard,” Luque has stated.
Maradona appeared in public on October 30 last year at an occasion to mark his 60th birthday, visibly weakened and appearing to be getting difficulty speaking and walking.
Luque ordered him hospitalized, which is when the blood clot was found.
Discharged from hospital just after surgery, Maradona was confined to home care, but some of his health-related group have told prosecutors the residence lacked health-related gear.
Last week, a lawyer for co-accused nurse Dahiana Madrid, 36, stated the health-related group leaders had “killed Diego.”
“In the end, there were many warning signs that Maradona was going to die, give or take a day. And none of the doctors did anything to prevent it,” lawyer Rodolfo Baque stated at the time.
The other 4 individuals below suspicion are nurse Ricardo Almiron, 37 nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, 40 health-related coordinator Nancy Forlini, 52 and psychologist Carlos Diaz, 29.
All have denied duty.
Maradona had battled cocaine and alcohol addictions for years.
The former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli star suffered from liver, kidney and cardiovascular problems when he died.
Maradona became an idol to millions of Argentines just after he inspired the South American nation to only their second World Cup triumph in 1986.
His death shocked fans about the world, and tens of thousands queued to file previous his coffin, draped in the Argentine flag, at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires amid 3 days of national mourning.
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