Maradona’s former psychiatrist has no regrets over therapy of icon earlier than grim demise
Shrink Agustina Cosachov broke down in tears as she testified about her alleged role in the soccer great’s shocking passing
Diego Maradona’s former psychiatrist has no regrets over treatment she handed the football icon before his grim death. Shrink Agustina Cosachov broke down in tears as she testified about her alleged role in the soccer great’s shocking passing.
She’s one of seven healthcare professionals on trial accused of negligence linked to the football legend’s death. Ms Cosachov instead blamed a private medical company for deficiencies in his home care before he was killed by a cardiac arrest on November 25 aged 60 in the wake of brain surgery.
She told the courts of San Isidro in Buenos Aires: “I acted convinced that what I was doing was best for the patient.
“In my role, I did what I could and even more.”
The psychiatrist wept twice during her testimony, including once when the presiding judge asked for her opinion on what happened to Diego.
She simply answered: “I don’t know.”
Her 1986 World Cup-winning patient underwent surgery for a haematoma between his skull and brain weeks before his death.
Diego was kept in intensive care at Los Olivos clinic between November 4 and 11 2020.
He was then sent to recover to a private home where he died.
Me Cosachov was part of his medical team during the final stages of the football great’s life, along with neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychologist Carlos Diaz.
The trio are on trial along with doctors Nancy Forlini and Pedro Di Spagna.
Mariano Perroni, a representative of the company that provided Diego’s nursing service, as well as nurse Ricardo Almiron, are also standing trial.
Diego – considered one of football’s greatest players and renowned for his infamous “hand of God” ‘86 World Cup goal – died in a rented house in Tigre, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires.
Three judges will decide whether those charged are guilty of manslaughter.
The maximum jail time for those sentenced is 25 years.
According to the prosecution, the accused professionals did not provide adequate medical care to their beloved patient.
Ms Cosachov referred to Diego’s family in her court testimony, adding about decisions made about his care in his final days: “We were all in agreement for home hospitalisation.”
She added: “Involuntary hospitalisation was also considered, but the family didn’t want that, and home hospitalisation was the only option.”
The director of the clinic where Diego had surgery said the soccer star requested alcohol during the post-operative period, and was difficult to handle.
All defendants deny wrongdoing in relation to Diego’s care and death.
Ms Cosachov prescribed the medication Diego took until his death.
The prosecution’s case is he was condemned to “oblivion” by his healthcare team.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari has said at some point in the two weeks before his death, Diego was taken to a house in a private neighborhood in the town of Tigre, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, without being in “full use of his mental faculties”.
He previously showed the court a picture of the former footballer lying in the bed where he was found dead with his abdomen shockingly swollen.
The trial could last up to four months.
Ms Cosachov is charged with homicide with possible intent in connection with Diego’s death.
She was sensationally accused of boasting in WhatsApp messages leaked by one of Diego’s ex-lovers of having sex with the patient.
But she said texts in which she appeared to joke sleeping with him was part of “therapy” were taken “out of context”.
The psychiatrist raged in a statement ahead of her testimony: “I do not usually make statements, but on this occasion I am forced to clarify the following due to the seriousness of the lie spread and the pain it generates in me and my family, my professional image and even the figure of Mr Diego Armando Maradona.”
