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Saturday, March 29, 2008

In death, she has given life: An organ donor

Dr. Tan Bee Hooi, 37, an anaesthetist with the Penang Hospital in Malaysia, died in Paris on Wednesday following complications from surgery related to arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in her brain.

She had undergone treatment by a world-renowned interventional neuro-radiologist. The complicated procedure of the embolization of the AVM on March 11 went well but Dr. Tan's condition took a turn for the worse and she died on Wednesday due to complications from the follow-up surgeries.

Dr. Tan's father, Datuk Tan Gin Soon, believed that his daughter would have wanted him to donate her organs, given her "deep and abiding interest" to serve fellow human beings.

Her family has donated her organs, including her corneas, heart, kidneys and liver, to patients in France and other countries of Europe.

"She was truly a remarkable woman. Even in death, she has given life," said the Malaysian Ambassador to France, Datuk S. Thanarajasingam.

Advice: Write and sign a note card stating your wish to have your organs donated, have it witnessed, and keep it in your wallet.

Read an organ recipient’s story.

Thanks to the New Straits Times for the source article from today's NST Online.

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