Grieving Parents Demand Answers After Son’s Death at San Fernando Teaching Hospital

August 8, 2025 – The grieving parents of six-year-old Jasher Francois are demanding a full investigation into their son’s death, which occurred just hours after he was admitted to the San Fernando Teaching Hospital for what they described as a “simple cough.”

Jasher’s parents, Yhnique and Aaron Francois, have appealed to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe for an independent investigation into their son’s sudden death. They have also requested an independent autopsy and filed a Freedom of Information request for all medical records related to Jasher’s care.

According to his family, Jasher was taken to the hospital on Wednesday after experiencing a dry cough, with no other flu-like symptoms. Following a referral from the Roy Joseph Health Centre, doctors at the hospital decided to monitor him overnight. Jasher’s oxygen levels were noted to be in the 90s, and he was treated with oxygen and a nebulizer. The parents recalled that there was “no alarm” to suggest their son was in critical condition. However, upon returning to the hospital early the next morning after a call from her husband, Yhnique Francois discovered her son’s lifeless body with blood oozing from his nose and chest.

Following the incident, Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe has requested a full report from the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). The SWRHA, in a public statement, expressed sympathy and confirmed that a formal case review is in progress. The findings, they added, will be shared with the family upon completion.