Egyptian saves four Chinese people after his death

CAIRO - 28 August 2018: Egyptian-Greek Sherif al-Gazar slipped in the bathtub while on a business trip to the Chinese City Guangzhou. The fall resulted in brain herniation, sight loss and respiratory system failure.

Doctors’ attempts to save his life by decreasing pressure on brain tissues failed as surgical intervention became pointless in such deteriorated condition. After his death, the hospital’s representatives suggested to his sister that the family approves of donating his organs, which had already been a wish of Gazar.

Gazar's wish came true last week as the heart, liver, and kidneys of the 37-year-old man went to four Chinese patients. Chinese TV footage showed Gazar’s sister, Farida, signing the approval after calling her mother who agreed on the phone’s loudspeaker prompting staff members at the hospital to bow down in respect of the gesture.

Organ donation after death is almost inexistent due to lack of awareness and cultural rejection to the act as many support leaving the body intact as a sign of respect to the deceased.

A religious debate was raised regarding organ transplantation as some religious edicts and fatwas prohibit organ transplantation on the ground that Islam does not allow Muslims to give up their organs by selling or donating whether during their lifetime or after death.

However, Dar Al-Iftaa (Fatwa Council) allowed organ transplants from living or dead donors in cases where they are meant to save the life of a patient at a chronic state and on a condition that such transplants are legal, and should not include any financial benefit for the donor, his family or his heirs in case the donor is deceased.