Opposition Crossbencher MP Penioni Ravunawa has urged the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to promptly release the preliminary medical report concerning Ilaisa Toroca. Mr. Toroca, aged 23, passed away last Saturday at Labasa Hospital following an alleged case of medical negligence at Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni.
Sitiveni Johnson, Mr. Toroca’s father, has claimed that the negligence and poor judgment exhibited by the dentist and doctor at Waiyevo Hospital contributed to his son’s untimely death. “The doctor in Labasa informed me that my son had been transferred to the Labasa Divisional Hospital in a timely manner and that he could have survived,” Johnson stated.
According to Mr. Johnson, his son passed away just hours after being transported from Taveuni to Labasa Hospital the same day. He mentioned that his son’s condition had significantly deteriorated on Friday, and he repeatedly requested the doctor to transfer Ilaisa that day.
The young man’s death is attributed to complications following a two-tooth extraction, as continuous bleeding aggravated his health. Mr. Ravunawa emphasized that releasing the medical report would provide some solace to the grieving family and help restore public trust in Fiji’s healthcare system.
“The prompt and efficient dissemination of information by health authorities is vital in situations like this,” he remarked, noting that the loss of a son in his youth has brought significant distress to the family. He added, “Any further delay in providing the official report only increases frustration among our people, especially the family members closely affected.”