Claire Murray, a 25 year old woman from Perth, suffered from a liver failure due to drug addition. She underwent a controversial second live liver transplant where a part of her aunt’s liver was given to her two weeks ago. She has reportedly succumbed to her condition and died just before 12:00pm (AWST) from complications in Singapore.
The eight hour transplant operation had been successful but she developed blood clots in her heart. She was brought to the intensive care on Tuesday where life support was finally withdrawn Wednesday afternoon when she failed to respond to therapy. Her parents including her mother Val, step father and natural father, Michel Murray were with her in Singapore. Ms Murray has is survived by her two children.
The controversy regarding her transplant came to media attention last month when health authorities at Perth had rejected her appeal for a second liver transplant after her first transplant failed due to heroin addiction. The first transplant was funded by the tax-payer’s fund. In a bid to help her the State Government gave her a $258,000 two-year interest-free loan so she could undergo a second transplant in Singapore.
Western Australian Health Minister Kim Hames has expressed his condolences to Ms Murray's family, saying the young mother's story "captured hearts".
He said, "She was a much-loved daughter to her parents and a mother to her two sons…She was also an example of what can happen when the scourge of illicit drugs enters the life of a young person….I can honestly say we did everything we could to give her that chance…I hope Claire’s legacy is one of compassion, and that tonight every West Australian will discuss their wishes in regard to organ donation with the families and loved ones…In this State we have bipartisan support to investigate ways to boost our rate of registration for organ donation. As of late February, just 16 per cent of West Australians had registered as organ donors, compared to more than 20 per cent in NSW, Victoria and Queensland."
He also said that the State Government will not pursue the loan now that Ms. Murray is no more.