Opposition Crossbencher MP Penioni Ravunawa is urging the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to promptly release the preliminary medical report concerning Ilaisa Toroca. The 23-year-old passed away last Saturday at Labasa Hospital following what has been described as medical negligence at Waiyevo Hospital on Taveuni.
Sitiveni Johnson, Toroca’s father, contends that negligence and poor judgment from both the dentist and doctor at Waiyevo Hospital contributed to his son’s death. He stated, “The doctor in Labasa informed me that my son had been transferred to Labasa Divisional Hospital in time to save him.”
Johnson recounted that his son passed away mere hours after being transferred from Taveuni to Labasa Hospital that same day. He highlighted that Toroca’s condition deteriorated significantly on Friday, prompting repeated requests for a same-day transfer to better medical facilities.
The incident involved a routine two-tooth extraction which turned tragic when excessive bleeding escalated his situation. Ravunawa emphasized that the release of the medical report would provide some measure of solace to the grieving family and help restore public trust in the healthcare system in Fiji.
“The timely and efficient dissemination of information by health authorities is vital in such cases,” he asserted. The MP expressed that the death of a young man has placed tremendous emotional strain on the family. He voiced concerns that continued delays in releasing the official report were exacerbating frustration for the family and those close to them.