Cancer patient, 3, dies after nurse injects him with formalin at AIIMS Bhopal
A three-year-old boy undergoing treatment for blood cancer at AIIMS Bhopal allegedly died after formalin was injected into his vein instead of the prescribed medication
A three-year-old boy undergoing treatment for blood cancer at AIIMS Bhopal allegedly died after formalin was injected into his vein instead of the prescribed medication, prompting police to register an FIR against two nursing officials months after the incident. The case, which dates back to December 2025, came to light following an internal hospital investigation that concluded the toxic chemical directly caused the child's death and pointed to serious lapses in protocol. Read Full Story CHILD WAS UNDERGOING LEUKEMIA TREATMENT The deceased, Sarthak Yadav, was a resident of a village in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district. Suffering from leukemia, he was admitted to the paediatric ward at AIIMS Bhopal on December 15, 2025, after his condition deteriorated. According to the hospital's internal inquiry, a critical error occurred on the morning of December 17 during treatment. The report says the child's intravenous line had become blocked.
During the procedure, nursing officer Madhubala Sharma allegedly injected a substance from a syringe marked with the letter "F" without properly identifying or verifying its contents. Family members have alleged that Sarthak's father repeatedly warned hospital staff that the syringe did not contain the prescribed medicine. They claim his concerns were ignored and that he was instead reprimanded and asked to remain quiet. Moments after the injection, the child's condition reportedly worsened rapidly. He became unconscious and was rushed to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Doctors attempted to revive him for an extended period, but Sarthak was declared dead at 8.45 am. INTERNAL PROBE POINTS TO FORMALIN The hospital's inquiry later found that the syringe used on the child contained formalin. Formalin is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas and is commonly used in hospitals and laboratories to preserve biopsy samples and human tissues.
Medical experts regard it as a highly toxic chemical and it is not intended to be injected into the human body under any circumstances. The investigation further found that another nursing staff member, Anuka Gujarati, had filled the syringe with formalin for laboratory use. Instead of storing it in a secure location as required under hospital protocol, it was allegedly left near a patient's bed. The inquiry committee concluded that the entry of formalin into the child's bloodstream was the direct cause of death and held nursing staff responsible for gross negligence. FIR REGISTERED, ACCUSED MISSING Based on the findings of the inquiry report, police in Bhopal registered a case against the two nursing officials on June 11. Speaking to Aaj Tak, sister company of India Today, Bagsewania police station SHO Amit Soni said Madhubala Sharma has been booked under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing death by negligence.
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