【Media Interview】”Good Morning News” – Taipower Engineer Li Yuan-Han Donates Organs After Tragic Accident: Though He Is Gone, He Leaves Hope Behind｜Interview with Dr. Lee Po-Chang, Organ Transplant Pioneer
When Typhoon Danas struck southern Taiwan, it severely damaged infrastructure and left many households without electricity. In an effort to restore power and light to homes, 36-year-old Taipower engineer Li Yuan-Han was electrocuted during emergency repair work. Seven days later, his family made the heart-wrenching decision to remove him from life support and fulfill his final wish—to donate his organs. His corneas were successfully transplanted, granting another person the gift of sight.
A Fallen Taipower Hero: Family Honors His Last Wish Through Organ Donation
Li Yuan-Han had worked as a maintenance engineer in the Taipower Chiayi District Office. Known for his cheerful personality and love of sports, he immediately volunteered for repair duties when the typhoon struck. Tragically, he lost his life in the line of duty. On July 22, his colleagues formed a solemn procession to bid him farewell, bringing him back to his workplace one last time in a gesture of deep respect and remembrance.
Despite their grief, Li’s family chose to honor his wishes and donate his organs. After evaluation by the transplant team, both of his corneas were successfully transplanted, allowing recipients with impaired vision to see again.
“To Give Is to Receive”: Organ Donation as a Gift of Life
Although organ donation is not widely discussed in Taiwanese society, it is an incredibly meaningful and impactful issue.
In an exclusive interview with Good Morning Health, Dr. Lee Po-Chang, Taiwan’s leading expert in organ transplantation and former Director-General of the National Health Insurance Administration, reflected on the challenges before the introduction of universal health coverage. Back then, undergoing dialysis was an enormous financial burden—comparable to purchasing a home each year. Many patients could only prolong life without truly improving its quality. Organ transplantation, he said, offered them a genuine chance to begin anew.
“To give is to receive,” said Dr. Lee, who has long advocated for organ donation. He also explained that in Taiwan, if someone donates their organs, their relatives within the third degree of kinship are granted priority on the national transplant waiting list should they ever require a transplant in the future.
Dr. Lee emphasized that beyond life extension, organ donation challenges traditional Chinese cultural beliefs about the body remaining whole after death. However, he noted that while the brain may cease to function, donated organs can continue to live on in others. Many recipients remember not just their birthday but also their “rebirth day”—the day they received a new lease on life. This gratitude often leads them to quietly pay their respects to unknown heroes at organ donor memorial walls in hospitals.
Lighting Homes in Life, Passing on Light in Death: A Legacy of Hope
Li Yuan-Han lit up homes during his lifetime, and in death, he continues to pass on life and hope. To fulfill his final wishes with dignity, a 3D prosthetics team at the hospital quickly created realistic prosthetic limbs, allowing him to leave the world with peace and respect.
Though names like Li Yuan-Han’s may fade from public memory, the love and sacrifice behind such decisions leave a lasting legacy. Their gentle strength reminds us of the profound weight of life—and illuminates the paths of many others.
