Forensics: Maradona's heart failure signs ignored before death

According to Sport, forensic expert Cassinelli stated in the Maradona death trial that Maradona showed signs of heart failure before his death but did not receive proper treatment.

Carlos Mauricio Cassinelli, coordinator of the interdisciplinary medical committee responsible for writing Maradona's death report and a forensic expert, testified on Tuesday that Maradona showed "signs of heart failure" in his last days, but the doctors caring for him did not properly manage it.

"Lower limb edema, increased urine output, snoring, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, and tachycardia are all warning signs consistent with heart failure that should have been controlled," said Cassinelli, who previously served as director of the forensic department of the Scientific Police.

The expert also mentioned that Maradona had "significant swelling" at the time. "These fluid retentions are secondary manifestations of heart failure. When the heart cannot pump the incoming blood, fluid begins to spread to other parts of the body," he explained.

Cassinelli previously served as director of the forensic department of the Scientific Police. In 2021, the Argentine judiciary requested the formation of a medical committee to investigate Maradona's death, and he served as the coordinator of this committee. According to him, the committee reviewed the patient's entire medical record, and the report was "collectively completed," with more than 20 professionals from different specialties reaching a consensus.

Cassinelli pointed out that although the two defendants, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, were "nominally responsible for home treatment," "no doctor was truly responsible for the patient's condition." Maradona received home treatment from November 11 to 25, 2020, and died shortly thereafter.

According to witnesses, the doctors ignored the warning signs they learned about through text messages and audio: "At the very least, these symptoms should have been checked at home, or a clinical medical expert or cardiologist should have been consulted, or he should have been sent directly to the hospital for an effective diagnosis."

"For a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy caused by long-term cocaine use, the heart will never return to normal. Heart failure can be compensated, but we all agree that he should have continued to take medication for this chronic condition," Cassinelli said.

According to the testimony of two doctors who treated him in a private clinic, Maradona stopped taking an antihypertensive drug shortly before his death. On Tuesday, Cassinelli stated: "I believe that these doctors did not understand, or did not have a deep understanding of the patient's full medical history." In addition to Luque and Cosachov, the case also tried Nancy Forlini, coordination doctor for home care at the Swiss medical company, psychoanalyst Carlos Díaz, doctor Pedro Di Spagna, nurse coordinator Mariano Perroni, and nurse Ricardo Almirón, all of whom are accused of simple homicide with eventual intent.

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