Opposition Crossbencher MP Penioni Ravunawa is urging the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to promptly disclose the preliminary medical report concerning Ilaisa Toroca.
The 23-year-old Toroca passed away on Saturday at Labasa Hospital, following what is alleged to be medical negligence at Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni. His father, Sitiveni Johnson, 49, asserts that the negligence and poor judgments made by hospital staff contributed to his son’s untimely death.
“The doctor in Labasa informed me that my son was transferred to Labasa Divisional Hospital in a timely manner and that he would have survived,” Mr. Johnson recounted. He noted that his son died just hours after being airlifted from Taveuni to Labasa Hospital the same day.
Mr. Johnson described how his son’s health significantly declined in Taveuni on Friday, leading him to repeatedly request that the doctor facilitate his son’s transfer that day. The dental procedure, a simple two-tooth extraction, turned deadly for the former Legend’s Fuel Station bowser attendant as his condition worsened due to excessive bleeding.
Mr. Ravunawa stated that releasing the medical report would provide some comfort to the grieving family and help restore public trust in Fiji’s healthcare system. “The timely and efficient issuance of information by health authorities is crucial in situations like this,” he remarked.
He further expressed that the loss of a young son has caused tremendous distress for the grieving family. “Delays in the release of the official report only add to the frustration felt by our people, particularly among close relatives,” he added.