• Husband files for divorce after wife refuses to donate liver
• Court affirms wife’s right to refuse

A South Korean man filed a lawsuit against his wife, accusing her of "malicious abandonment" and seeking a divorce after she refused to donate a portion of her liver to save his life.

The couple had two daughters, one aged two years and the other an infant of one month.

Last winter, the husband was diagnosed with early-stage biliary cirrhosis, a rare liver disease, and doctors warned that without a liver transplant, he would not live more than a year.

To save him, his parents sold their home to fund the treatment, but the wife did not stay by his side to care for him seriously.

Hope appeared when tests showed that his wife was a perfect match as a liver donor, making her the ideal candidate for the transplant.

However, when the husband asked her to donate a portion of her liver, she refused and informed the doctors and his family that she suffered from "severe phobia of needles and sharp instruments" and could not face surgery.

Her refusal caused tension within the family, and the husband felt betrayed, mocking her efforts in caring for him, saying: "What’s the point of taking care of me? You just want to watch me die. Maybe it’s better if you just kill me."

His parents pressured her, asking: "Do you want to watch your husband die?"

Fortunately, a brain-dead donor was found in time, and the husband underwent a successful liver transplant.

After his recovery, he began investigating his wife’s claims and discovered that she had previously undergone an appendectomy and had blood tests without any issues.

When confronted, she admitted that her real reason was fear of surgical risks and concern about leaving their two young daughters without a mother if something went wrong.

The husband filed for divorce, accusing his wife of “malicious abandonment” and failing in her marital duties.

However, the court ruled in favor of the wife, stating that organ donation is a personal matter and no one can be forced to donate, even between spouses.

The court noted that the husband’s psychological pressure and verbal abuse weakened trust in the relationship and made him primarily responsible for its collapse.

It affirmed that the wife’s refusal was based on reasonable concerns for the children’s safety.

In the end, the wife was granted custody of the children while continuing to provide financial support for her husband’s medical recovery.