Fernando Villarejo, the head of intensive care at the clinic where Diego Maradona underwent surgery before his death on November 25, 2020, testified in court this Tuesday. Villarejo stated that Maradona was sedated against his will.
Sedation Controversy
Villarejo expressed his disagreement with the decision to sedate Maradona, citing that it was not the appropriate procedure. He said, “We sedated him for 24 hours, but when a patient is sedated to reverse withdrawal, it requires a more suitable process with a longer horizon.” Maradona’s sedation was carried out by doctors Leopoldo Luque and Agustina Cosachov, two of the defendants in the trial. Villarejo also revealed that Maradona was unwilling to be sedated with a central venous catheter, which was ultimately done. He described Maradona as a sometimes restless and difficult patient to manage.
Disagreement over Detoxification
Villarejo recommended that Maradona undergo detoxification at a rehabilitation center, but Luque opted for it to be done at home. This decision has become a point of contention in the trial. The defendants, including Luque and Cosachov, face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years. The trial, which began on March 11, will hear from nearly 120 witnesses. Maradona died from a cardiorespiratory crisis at a private residence in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, while recovering from neurosurgery for a head hematoma.