Vietnamese Delegate Warns Against Organ Donation Expansion for Minors

National Assembly Delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan has expressed significant concerns regarding a proposal to expand organ and tissue donation registration to individuals under the age of 18. While contributing feedback on the draft Law on Donation, Retrieval, and Transplantation of Human Tissues and Organs, she urged caution to protect the rights and safety of children.

Delegate Lan argued that minors may lack the cognitive maturity to fully comprehend the long-term consequences of such decisions. She highlighted the risk that a child's consent, even if accompanied by written guardian approval, might not be truly voluntary. There is a concern that children could face emotional pressure from family members to donate.

Furthermore, the delegate warned that granting decision-making power to parents or legal representatives could lead to inequity within families, particularly in households where gender discrimination or other biases exist. She emphasized that the legitimate need for organs to save lives should not supersede the fundamental safety and ethical treatment of young donors.