By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Persistent vegetative state (PVS) baseball player Lim Soo-hyuk cannot have his organs donated unlike brain dead people because there is the possibility of recovery, the Korean Network for Organ Sharing said Sunday.
According to the center, there are records of PVS patients being revived after more than 10 years, therefore the center does not accept body organs even with the permission of family members.
The explanation came after news of Lim's family having suffered from series of online attacks from so-called keyboard warriors for ``not donating organs like brain dead people.'' Recent news of late Choi Yo-sam, former flyweight champion, donating his organs to more than four people, might have been behind the behavior, observers said.
The organ sharing center spokesman said that brain dead and being in a vegetative state has a fundamental difference. While brain death is where the brain is severely damaged and ceases all functions except mechanically keeping the heart and lungs working, PVS is linked to partial damage to the brain only.
``The PVS patient can breathe on their own. They may recover. Therefore, we do not accept the donation even with the family's approval,'' he said, adding that all people should pray for his recovery.
Lim was a catcher for Lotte Giants but collapsed during a game in 2000, diagnosed as PVS he remained bedridden ever since. It was reported that Lim's family couldn't afford the snowballing medical fees and is now being cared for at home.
The family recently allegedly considered taking legal action against the keyboard warriors insulting the player and his family, but withdrew because most of the offenders were still kids. One of the offenders called up the family of the sick player, apologized and said his accusation was groundless. He reportedly said he did not know about the player but just did it for fun.