Argentine prosecutors raid home of Maradona's psychiatrist in probe

[December 02, 2020]    By Ramiro Scandolo

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine investigators raided the home of Diego Maradona's psychiatrist on Tuesday, the latest twist in a probe into the soccer legend's death last week, which has already seen files seized from his personal doctor.

Prosecutors, with a judicial order, carried out searches in the house and the private office of Agustina Cosachov in Buenos Aires, as they had done on Sunday with the properties of Maradona's personal doctor Leopoldo Luque.

"These are routine measures when investigating the causes of death of a patient," Cosachov's lawyer, Vadim Mischanchuk, told local television. "What is being sought is a medical history on telephones and computers."

Maradona, who fought long battles with addiction, died of a heart attack at the age of 60 last week after undergoing brain surgery earlier in November for a blood clot.

The World Cup winner's death had ripple effects around the globe and drew an outpouring of grief from Argentina to Naples, Italy.

Prosecutors are investigating possible "malpractice" and if necessary medical requirements for care were met, the lawyer Mischanchuk said.

Two sources close the case, who declined to be named, told Reuters "doctors are the main ones being targeted by the prosecution" for Maradona's death. The probe was looking at possible wrongful death and medical negligence, they said.

Maradona's lawyer, Matias Morla, said last week he would ask for a full investigation of the circumstances of the sport star's death, criticizing what he said was a slow response by emergency service.

(Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo; Editing by Nicolas Misculin, Adam Jourdan and Tom Brown)

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