A father from Waiyevo, Taveuni is seeking answers from the Ministry of Health following the tragic death of his 23-year-old son, Ilaisa Toroca. The incident occurred last Saturday and Mr. Sitiveni Johnson attributes his son’s death to medical negligence and a lack of timely action after a routine tooth extraction at Waiyevo Hospital.
Mr. Johnson alleges that excessive bleeding from the procedure led to his son’s demise, claiming, “Taveuni Hospital doctors and the dental team murdered my son in his prime.” He described the tooth extraction as a straightforward procedure that took a disastrous turn, worsening Ilaisa’s health significantly.
After the extraction, Ilaisa’s condition deteriorated quickly, prompting Mr. Johnson to voice his deep sorrow and concern over the handling of the situation. This incident has sparked public outrage on social media, with many criticizing the Ministry of Health for its ineffective service delivery across public healthcare facilities.
Attempts to reach Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, for comments regarding Ilaisa’s case were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak at the time. Complaints about delays in patient care and inadequate resources at major hospitals have been on the rise, such as a recent water shortage at Navua Hospital that was only recently addressed.
In recounting the events leading to his son’s death, Mr. Johnson explained that Ilaisa had initially gone to the hospital nearly three weeks prior for dental work. After persistent bleeding five days post-procedure, they returned to the hospital, where the dentist used cotton wool as a temporary fix and sent them home. By Friday, Ilaisa was vomiting blood, which prompted a third visit. Mr. Johnson alleges that medical staff did not arrange for a transfer to Labasa Hospital until it was too late.
After contacting a friend to secure a flight, the family boarded a Fiji Link flight to Labasa on Saturday, arriving around 3pm. Unfortunately, Ilaisa passed away three hours later despite attempts to save him. Mr. Johnson also mentioned seeing an X-ray report that indicated significant internal bleeding, leading him to question the delay in transferring his son to a suitable facility.
Ilaisa, described by his father as energetic and hardworking, is set to be laid to rest at Pagai Village, Taveuni, tomorrow. An inquiry sent to the Fiji Dental Association President, Dr. Parikshath Naidu, received no response by the time of publication.