Nurse testifies Maradona's home lacked defibrillator, emergency phone

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

Details of the Testimony

Nurse Mansilla was on duty at Maradona's house 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 things were missing to care for him. In an emergency, there was no emergency kit or defibrillator, nor a phone to call. The whole logistics were not very clear," Mansilla stated.

The witness detailed that Maradona's medication instructions were posted on the refrigerator door, on an unsigned and unstamped sheet, which in her experience was unusual.

Monitoring and Refusal of Treatment

Mansilla said she was instructed to "monitor vital signs," 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 performed—was not ordered.

Asked by the prosecution about Maradona's refusal to be treated and how to proceed in such cases, Mansilla, who has 20 years of experience in the field, replied: "You have to approach him anyway. Not by force. If he refuses treatment and his life is at risk, you have to take it to court. As a nurse, I have to report it."

Testimony from Nurse Aldo Zenteno

Nurse Aldo Zenteno also testified on Thursday, stating he had no issues with the patient and was able to take his vital signs during the four shifts he performed 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."

Reason for Home Treatment

Zenteno also addressed the reason for the home treatment, one of the key points of dispute in the trial. Some of the accused claim it was exclusively for addiction monitoring and not post-operative care after surgery for a subdural hematoma on his head.

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

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

Maradona's Condition

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 the length of shifts to reduce the number of nurses. Only Ricardo Almirón and Dahiana Madrid, both defendants in the case, attended to him until his death on November 25, 2020.

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In addition to Perroni and Almirón, those on trial include:

• Leopoldo Luque – neurosurgeon and the star's personal physician
• Agustina Cosachov – psychiatrist
• Nancy Forlini – Swiss Medical home care coordinator
• Pedro Di Spagna – clinical doctor
• 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 start date yet.