Opposition Crossbencher MP Penioni Ravunawa is urging the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to publish the preliminary medical report regarding Ilaisa Toroca without delay. The 23-year-old died last Saturday at Labasa Hospital following allegations of medical negligence at Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni.
His father, Sitiveni Johnson, 49, asserts that the negligence and poor judgment exhibited by the dentist and doctor at Waiyevo Hospital contributed to his son’s demise. “The doctor in Labasa informed me that my son was transferred to the Labasa Divisional Hospital in time, and he would have survived,” he stated.
Mr. Johnson reported that his son passed away just hours after being airlifted from Taveuni to Labasa Hospital the same day. He expressed that his son’s health significantly deteriorated on Friday in Taveuni, and he repeatedly urged the doctor to send his son that day.
The situation escalated tragically after a simple dental procedure, a two-tooth extraction, resulted in fatal continuous bleeding. Mr. Ravunawa emphasized that releasing this report would not only offer some solace to the grieving family but also help restore public confidence in the medical services available in Fiji.
“The prompt and efficient dissemination of information by the health authorities is crucial in such circumstances,” he remarked. The MP noted that the loss of a young son has inflicted immense stress on the bereaved family. He added that delays in releasing the official report have only intensified the frustration among the family and their close relatives.