Father Demands Answers After Son Dies following Tooth Extraction
Mr Johnson expressed his heartbreak, revealing that his son's condition deteriorated rapidly after the procedure.
Wednesday 21 August 2024 | 15:20
Devastated father, Sitiveni Johnson, 49, shows a picture of his late son, Ilaisa Toroca, 23, who is claimed to have died due to alleged medical negligence. Photo: Sampras Anand.
A grieving father is demanding answers from the Ministry of Health, alleging medical negligence and inaction led to the death of his healthy 23-year-old son last Saturday.
Sitiveni Johnson of Waiyevo, Taveuni, lost his son, Ilaisa Toroca, at around 6pm, which he claims was due to excessive bleeding, following complications from a tooth extraction at Waiyevo Hospital.
"Taveuni Hospital doctors and the dental team murdered my son in his prime," Mr Johnson claimed.
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"It was a simple tooth extraction that went horribly wrong. The dentist's actions caused his health to worsen."
Mr Johnson expressed his heartbreak, revealing that his son's condition deteriorated rapidly after the procedure.
This incident adds to the growing chorus of public outrage on social media, where the Ministry of Health has been criticised for poor service delivery in public healthcare facilities.
Despite attempts to contact the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, for comments on Lai’s case, he declined, saying, “Sorry, I can’t talk right now.”
Numerous complaints have also surfaced about delayed patient care and insufficient resources, including bedding, at major hospitals.
A recent example is the water shortage at Navua Hospital, which the ministry only addressed yesterday.
Questions sent to the ministry’s media liaison officer also went unanswered when this edition went to press.
A series of failures
Mr Johnson recounted that his son first visited Waiyevo Hospital nearly three weeks ago to have two teeth extracted.
Five days later, persistent bleeding prompted another visit to the hospital.
“The dentist used cotton wool to temporarily stop the bleeding and sent us home,” he claimed.
By Friday, when his son began vomiting blood due to continuous bleeding, Mr Johnson returned to the hospital for a third time.
Despite his pleas, medical officials allegedly failed to arrange for his son’s transfer to Labasa Hospital until it was too late.
“I contacted a friend who arranged a flight, and we boarded a Fiji Link flight to Labasa on Saturday,” Mr Johnson said.
They landed at Labasa Airport around 3pm, but Lai died three hours later, despite efforts to save him.
Mr Johnson also claimed to have seen an X-ray report indicating his son suffered excessive internal bleeding.
“I lost hope when I saw the X-ray,” he said, questioning the delay in transferring his son to Labasa.
Lai, described as energetic, hardworking, and full of love, will be laid to rest at Pagai Village, Taveuni, tomorrow.
An email sent to Fiji Dental Association President Dr Parikshath Naidu went unanswered when this edition went to press.
Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj
