The Maradona trial: medical assistant reveals lack of emergency equipment at home
A medical assistant testified in the Maradona trial that the logistics of home care "were not clear" and that a defibrillator and monitoring devices were missing.
Testimony in Maradona trial: "There were not even devices to monitor vital signs"
According to News.ro, Tamara Mansilla, a medical assistant who worked for only one day of the 14 days of home care for Diego Maradona before his death, gave testimony in proceedings held in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires. She stated that the "logistics" relating to the home hospitalisation of the former Argentine footballer "were not clear".
Maradona died on 25 November 2020, at the age of 60, following a cardiorespiratory arrest associated with pulmonary oedema. He was alone in his bed at a rented house for convalescence in Tigre.
"Some things necessary to be able to intervene in case of emergency were missing, such as a telephone number where you would know who to call. Obviously, I would have called 911, but the logistical aspects were not clear," Mansilla said before the court.
The assistant also described the complete absence of essential medical equipment: "There were not even devices to monitor vital signs. It was an absolutely ordinary house. No AED (defibrillator), no emergency equipment in case of cardiac arrest." She added that there was no clear information about the presence of an ambulance nearby — an aspect that Maradona's family claims had been promised by the medical team.
Tamara Mansilla's statements add to ten previous testimonies that have flagged the same shortcomings in the management of care for the former world football star.
Seven healthcare professionals — including a doctor, a psychiatrist, a psychologist and several medical assistants — are being tried for "homicide with eventual intent", that is, negligence committed with awareness that it could lead to death. They face sentences of up to 25 years in prison.
Source: News.ro