Surgeon labels patient as incredibly challenging during court proceeding
Unfiltered Tales: The Controversial Care of Diego Maradona
Jabbering before the court today, neurosurgeon Rodolfo Benvenuti spewed details about Diego Maradona, labeling him a "tricky, unconventional patient" whose "no's" needed managing. testified during the trial of Maradona's medical team, accused of potentially negligent homicide.
At the heart of the trial is one operation in early November 2020, where Benvenuti oversees Maradona's surgery for a head hematoma. Post-op, Maradona relocated to a private residence to convalesce. Sadly, he never left.
Maradona yearned to escape the medical facility ASAP and would never tolerate hospitalization outside his home for recovery, asserted Benvenuti, hinting at the star's entourage having no options but to cave.
"Managing Maradona's 'no's' was crucial, knowing who would step in during situations when he refused medication or treatment," he declared, reminiscing about the struggle to get him to undergo a tomography before the neurosurgery.
By November 25, 2020, Maradona breathlessly expired at 60 from a cardiorespiratory arrest complicated by pulmonary edema, ensconced in Tigre, near San Isidro, where he had been recuperating for two weeks. The day nurse found him unresponsive on his bed that morning.
Seven medical professionals - doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses - stand trial since March for "potential foul play," a term used for negligence that could potentially lead to death.
Benvenuti, like previous witnesses, cast a heavy shadow on the care during the recovery, suggesting that "daily checkups by an external doctor would've already been excellent, mimicking a hospital environment."
On Tuesday, a witness, a manager of a healthcare and medical equipment provider, testified that the medical team surrounding Maradona—some of the accused—only sought weekly medical checkups at the time.
Moreover, according to Benvenuti, the medical equipment level for such a patient should've been cranked up to the max, anticipating future needs.
To date, the trial has centered around the care conditions: the initial decision, scant medical devices, the level of follow-up, even cleanliness — a "nightmare," the prosecution summarized. Finger-pointing also occurred regarding who truly wielded power in Maradona's inner circle.
The accused, vehemently denying culpability in the death, face 8 to 25 years in prison. The trial chugs along until July, with two hearings per week.
Insights:- Maradona's medical care during his convalescence at home was insufficient and may have contributed to his death.- His personal physician Leopoldo Luque recommended home care over continuous monitoring in a hospital or clinic.- The medical team's failure to provide timely and adequate treatment led to Maradona’s prolonged agony and eventual death.- Questionable medical decisions, including surgery and home care recommendations, are being investigated and are a central focus of the trial.- Experts suspect that the medical team's actions were negligent and contributed to Maradona's demise, subject to legal scrutiny and potential conviction.
- Rodolfo Benvenuti, a neurosurgeon, testified that Diego Maradona was a challenging patient who needed his 'no's' managed, during the trial for potential negligent homicide.
- In November 2020, Maradona underwent surgery for a head hematoma overseen by Benvenuti, after which he was hospitalized at a private residence to recover, where he ultimately remained until his death.
- Benvenuti asserted that Maradona strongly preferred to avoid hospitalization and his entourage was forced to comply with his wishes.
- During the recovery period, Benvenuti believed that daily checkups by an external doctor would have provided a hospital-like atmosphere, which could have improved Maradona's care.
- Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, from cardiorespiratory arrest complicated by pulmonary edema, while recuperating at his home in Tigre.
- The medical team responsible for Maradona's care, including some of the accused, were reported to have only sought weekly medical checkups at the time, according to a testifying manager of a healthcare and medical equipment provider.
- Throughout the trial, the focus has been on the care conditions, questioning the initial decision, the level of medical devices, follow-up, cleanliness, and whether power dynamics within Maradona's inner circle played a role in his care and eventual death.
