Vietnam proposes expanding organ donation rights for minors

The Vietnamese government has submitted a draft amendment to the Law on Donation, Taking, and Transplantation of Human Tissues and Organs to the National Assembly. A key proposal involves expanding organ and tissue donation rights to individuals under the age of 18.

Medical experts, including Professor Tran Minh Dien of the National Children's Hospital and Associate Professor Nguyen Lan Hieu of Hanoi Medical University Hospital, emphasize the need to distinguish between two distinct practices: the donation of regenerative tissues (such as hematopoietic stem cells) from living minors to save siblings or relatives, and the donation of organs after brain death or circulatory death.

Proponents argue that the current law, which restricts donation registration to those 18 and older, limits the available donor pool for critically ill children who require organs matching their specific size and anatomy. However, experts also stress the necessity of strict legal safeguards, including oversight from child protection agencies and the requirement of written consent from legal guardians, to prevent exploitation and protect children's rights.