The shocking medical mix-up in the Diego Maradona investigation

The trial investigating the tragic passing of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona has been thrown into chaos after a healthcare provider admitted that crucial medical tests submitted as evidence actually belonged to his late father.

Read Also: Cashing in on History: The bizarre story behind the $10m "Hand of God" football auction

A monumental administrative mix-up

In a shocking letter seen by AFP on Monday, Argentine healthcare company "Swiss Medical" formally acknowledged a catastrophic filing error.

The medical records handed over to the medical board investigating the footballer's death were incorrectly registered under Diego Armando Maradona.

In reality, the tests belonged to his father, Diego Salustiano Maradona who passed away in 2015, five years before his legendary son.

Impact on the negligence trial

The error was only discovered last week by a defense attorney representing one of the seven medical professionals currently standing trial for alleged negligence.

Maradona passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60 due to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, just two weeks after undergoing brain surgery for a blood clot.

The prosecution argues that his medical team provided inadequate care in his final days.

This mix-up strikes at the very core of the medical evidence:

• Kidney Health Focus: The condition of Maradona's kidneys was a central focal point in the latter stages of the trial
  
• Invalid Testimony: A nephrologist had previously testified that the medical team should have paid closer attention to Maradona's kidney function but it has now been revealed that this expert analysis was based entirely on the wrong patient's test results

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Argentina