Opposition Crossbencher MP Penioni Ravunawa is urging the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to promptly release the preliminary medical report regarding Ilaisa Toroca. Toroca, a 23-year-old male, passed away last Saturday at Labasa Hospital after reportedly suffering from medical negligence at Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni.
His father, Sitiveni Johnson, 49, asserts that the poor judgment of both the dentist and doctor at Waiyevo Hospital contributed to his son’s death. Johnson recounted that a doctor in Labasa mentioned that if his son had been transferred to the Labasa Divisional Hospital sooner, he could have been saved. He stated that Toroca died only hours after being airlifted from Taveuni to Labasa on the same day.
Johnson expressed his frustration, stating that his son’s health took a serious turn for the worse while in Taveuni, and he had continually requested the doctor to arrange for his son’s transfer that day. The incident was reportedly triggered by complications following a two-tooth extraction, which led to severe bleeding that exacerbated Toroca’s condition.
Ravunawa noted that the timely release of the medical report would help alleviate the distress felt by Toroca’s family and restore public confidence in Fiji’s healthcare system. He emphasized the importance of transparent communication from health authorities in critical situations to mitigate further frustration, especially among grieving relatives. The loss of a young son has placed tremendous emotional strain on the family, according to Ravunawa.