Maradona could have improved with diuretic, doctor says at trial

A doctor who treated Diego Maradona and later witnessed his autopsy told the trial over the football icon’s death that he could have improved within 48 hours had he been given a diuretic.

“He had fluid in the pericardium, in the pleura, in the abdomen,” intensive care specialist Mario Schiter said. “With a diuretic, within around 48 hours he should have been markedly better.”

Schiter, who treated Maradona in the early 2000s and later took part as an observer during the 2020 autopsy, said the former footballer showed symptoms commonly seen in patients suffering congestive heart failure.

“I see patients like this every day in intensive care,” he told the court. “We reduce the fluid volume with diuretics and after 12 hours they are already back home.”

The doctor testified for nearly five hours during the 10th hearing of the trial taking place in San Isidro, around 30 kilometres north of Buenos Aires.

His testimony echoed that of other experts who have told the court Maradona had “water everywhere” at the time of his death, referring to the severe oedema found throughout his body.

The legendary number 10, who captained the country to victory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, died from pulmonary oedema and cardiorespiratory arrest on November 25, 2020 while recovering at home from neurosurgery carried out three weeks earlier.

The day’s hearing descended into chaos after lead defendant Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s neurosurgeon and personal doctor, played footage from the autopsy without warning those present about its graphic content.

One of Maradona’s daughters, Gianinna Maradona, was in the courtroom and was unable to leave before images of her father’s body appeared on screen.

As the footage was shown, Gianinna ran from the courtroom shouting abuse at Luque.

Graphic images have frequently been shown during the hearings, which Gianinna regularly attends, but lawyers normally warn her in advance so she can leave the room beforehand.

Alongside Luque, six other healthcare professionals are facing charges of homicide with possible intent, meaning prosecutors argue they were aware their actions could lead to Maradona’s death. They face sentences of up to 25 years in prison. An eighth defendant will be tried separately before a jury.

This is the second trial linked to the case. The first was annulled in 2025 after it emerged that one of the judges had been involved in making an unauthorised documentary.

– TIMES/AFP