Opposition Crossbencher MP Penioni Ravunawa is urging the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to promptly release the preliminary medical report regarding Ilaisa Toroca. Mr. Toroca, who was 23 years old, passed away last 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 poor decisions made by a dentist and doctor at Waiyevo Hospital contributed to his son’s death. “The doctor in Labasa told me that my son was transferred to the Labasa Divisional Hospital in time, and he would have survived,” Mr. Johnson stated. He noted that his son died a few hours after being airlifted from Taveuni to Labasa Hospital on the same day.
Mr. Johnson mentioned that his son’s condition worsened significantly in Taveuni on Friday, leading him to continuously urge the doctor to send his son for treatment that day. The incident involved a simple tooth extraction, which tragically turned fatal due to continued bleeding that aggravated his condition. Mr. Ravunawa emphasized that disclosing this report would provide some solace to the grieving family and help restore public confidence in Fiji’s healthcare system.
“The timely and effective communication of information by health authorities is crucial in such situations,” he remarked. The MP pointed out that the loss of a son in his youth has placed immense emotional strain on the bereaved family. He further expressed that any delay in releasing the official report only adds to the frustration experienced by the family and the community.