Nurse testifies Maradona’s home lacked defibrillator, emergency kit and phone

Tamara Mansilla, one of the nurses who cared for Diego Armando Maradona during the home treatment in his final two weeks of life, testified this Thursday at the trial seeking to establish responsibility for his death. She stated that in the house, "there were things missing to care for him."

Nurse Mansilla was on duty at Maradona's home on November 12, 2020, when she spent "the whole night awake in the kitchen," from where she could hear the patient's movements.

"I didn't feel comfortable with the place, because there were things missing to care for him. In an emergency, there was no emergency kit or defibrillator, nor a phone to call. The whole logistics weren't very clear," Mansilla testified.

Medication Instructions Taped to Refrigerator

The witness detailed that Maradona's medication instructions were taped to the refrigerator door, on a sheet without a seal or signature — something that in her experience was unusual.

Contradiction on Vital Signs Monitoring

Mansilla said she was instructed to "monitor vital signs," thus contradicting the nursing coordinator, Mariano Perroni, who is accused in this trial. Perroni stated in a previous hearing that monitoring vital signs — which not all nurses carried out — was not instructed.

Maradona's Refusal of Treatment

Asked by the prosecution about Maradona's refusal to be treated and how to proceed in such cases, Mansilla — who has twenty years of experience in the field — replied:

"You have to approach him anyway. Not by force. If he won't let himself be treated and his life is at risk, you have to take it to court. As a nurse, I have to report it."

Second Nurse Testifies: "No Medical Equipment"

Nurse Aldo Zenteno also testified this Thursday, stating he had no issues with the patient and was able to take his vital signs during the four shifts he worked at the home.

He confirmed that in the house "there was no medical equipment" and added:

"In my opinion, there should have been medical instructions signed by a professional and an ambulance at the door for emergency care."

Contradiction on Purpose of Home Treatment

Zenteno also addressed the reason for the home treatment — a key point of contention in the trial, as some of the accused claim it was exclusively for addiction monitoring and not post-operative recovery:

"I was informed that he had been operated on and that he would be in that house for recovery."

He also testified about restrictions imposed on nursing staff:

"We were told to stay in the living room or outside, his nephew and the security told us. I was told to try not to bother him, to leave him alone."

Condition Deterioration Noted

The nurse specified that he generally saw Maradona in good condition, except on November 23, two days before his death, when he saw him "a little swollen."

Removal from Service

Both Zenteno and Mansilla were removed from the service when it was decided to extend shift durations to reduce the number of nurses. Only Ricardo Almirón and Dahiana Madrid — both charged in the case — attended to Maradona until his death on November 25, 2020.

Related News: The Defendants

In addition to Perroni and Almirón, those being tried in this process include:

• Leopoldo Luque — neurosurgeon and Maradona's personal physician
• Agustina Cosachov — psychiatrist
• Nancy Forlini — Swiss Medical home care coordinator
• Pedro Di Spagna — clinical physician
• Carlos Díaz — psychologist

All are accused of the crime of simple homicide with eventual intent. Nurse Madrid will be tried in a separate proceeding with no date set yet.