Vietnam: Conditions for determining brain death

According to the Law on donation, removal and transplantation of human tissues and organs and the donation and recovery of cadavers 2006 of Vietnam, conditions for determining brain death are specified as follows:

1. Satisfying all indicators of brain death: Clinical criteria and Subclinical criteria. In which:

Clinical criteria for brain death determination include:

- Coma (the score of 3 on the Glasgow coma scale);

- Fixed pupil (the pupil's diameter dilated to both sides over 4 mm);

- No pupillary reflex to light;

- No corneal reflex;

- No cough response to stimulation of bronchi;

- No deviation of the eyes to irrigation of each ear with 50 ml of cold water;

- Loss of the breathing ability when the ventilator is disconnected.

The time criterion for brain death determination is that conclusion on brain death can be made only at least 12 hours after the moment all clinical criteria specified above are satisfied and no recovery is observed.

In order to identify subclinical criteria for determining brain death, one of the following professional techniques shall be used:

- Electroencephalogram (EEG);

- Computed tomography scanning;

- Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography;

- X-ray of brain arteries;

- Nuclear brain scanning.

2. Three professionals have personally conducted examination and conclusion on brain death: 

Professionals in brain death determination are those in the following fields:

- Intensive care;

- Neurology or neurosurgery;

- Forensic examination.

3. Brain death diagnosis may be conducted only at a medical establishment with an intensive care unit, ventilators, breath and blood analyzers and other conditions as prescribed by law.

Brain death is the state when the whole brain is severely damaged, the brain stops functioning and the brain-dead person cannot be revived.

View more details at the Law on donation, removal and transplantation of human tissues and organs and the donation and recovery of cadavers 2006 of Vietnam, effective from July 01, 2007.

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