Vietnam Experts Discuss Addition of Organ Donation after Cardiac Death to Law

On February 29, the National Coordination Center for Organ Transplantation held a seminar titled " Donation and Organ Transplantation after Cardiac Death in Vietnam" to gather opinions from scientists and experts regarding the proposal to include the organ donation after cardiac death to the amended Law on Organ Transplantation.

The event took place as the 2006 Organ Transplantation Law only addresses organ donation from brain-dead individuals and does not cover organ donation from heart-dead individuals. Meanwhile, the number of organs donated for transplantation to save others' lives does not meet the demand of patients awaiting transplants.

Associate Professor-Dr. Nguyen Quang Nghia, director of the Organ Transplant Center at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, stated that approximately 200 cases undergoing brain death evaluation for organ donation at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital experience circulatory failure, rendering them ineligible for organ donation despite family consent. Therefore, he emphasized the need for predictive criteria for circulatory failure to transition from diagnosing brain death to diagnosing circulatory failure. Consequently, a plan is needed to organize organ retrieval from heart-dead donors.

Sharing experiences from China, Associate Professor Dong Van He noted that in China, the rate of heart death organ donation is higher than brain death organ donation due to ongoing debates regarding brain death donation. Families only consent to donation when the heart has stopped beating.

Dr. Du Thi Ngoc Khu, head of the Organ Transplant Coordination Unit at Cho Ray Hospital, emphasized the need for a council to establish criteria for diagnosing deceased patients. Members of the council must have at least five years of expertise in their respective fields.

Dr. Duong Duc Hung, director of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, suggested a careful consideration of the process for determining heart death.

Mr. Ha Truong Giang, legal specialist at the Ministry of Health, pointed out that there are discrepancies in terminologies such as heart death, cardiac arrest, circulatory failure, and cessation of circulation. Therefore, the Director of the National Coordination Center for Organ Transplantation proposed including "organ donation from heart-dead individuals" in the law and initiating preparations before September 2024. Additionally, choosing the most appropriate, accurate, understandable, and communicable term regarding "brain death" for inclusion in the proposed amendment is essential.

(Nhan Dan)