S'porean in S. Korea in vegetative state after gastroscopy

Couple had planned to move to S'pore in June before fateful medical procedure

- Wendy Teo

INCHEON, South Korea - Former teacher Tong Ming Yan, a Singaporean, and her South Korean husband Jang Jong-seok were looking forward to moving back to Singapore with their two children in June, after having lived in South Korea for two years.

They had booked their flight and Ms Tong had made arrangements to return to her teaching position at St Gabriel's Secondary School. The family had already sent ahead half of their belongings.

But their move has been stalled. Ms Tong, 35, lies in a vegetative state at a South Korean hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during a gastroscopy.

While she was resuscitated after nearly 20 minutes, she had already suffered irreversible brain damage, according to a medical report seen by The Straits Times.

Ms Tong had signed up for a 350,000 won (S$336) comprehensive health screening at an Incheon hospital that included the gastroscopy - an examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract - and colonoscopy under sedation.

Mr Jang, 37, a civil engineer, is now suing the hospital for medical negligence and seeking damages and compensation for what happened to his wife.

While Ms Tong's parents want her back in Singapore as soon as possible to be surrounded by family and to receive the stimulus they hope will aid in her recovery, the wait for an independent medical assessment - a standard requirement for medical lawsuits in South Korea - has delayed her return.

After four months in the intensive care unit, Ms Tong was moved to a nursing hospital in August.

She now breathes with the help of a mechanical ventilator and blinks often, but seemingly not in response to anything.