A three-year-old leukemia patient at AIIMS Bhopal allegedly died after being administered formalin instead of prescribed medication
June 14, 2026: A shocking case of alleged medical negligence has emerged from AIIMS Bhopal, where a three-year-old child undergoing treatment for blood cancer reportedly died after being injected with formalin instead of prescribed medicine. The incident took place in December 2025 but came to light after an internal hospital investigation reportedly concluded that the toxic chemical entered the child’s bloodstream during treatment. The victim, Sarthak Yadav from Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, had been admitted to the hospital’s paediatric ward for leukemia treatment.
According to the inquiry report, the child’s intravenous line became blocked on December 17, following which nursing officer Madhubala Sharma allegedly administered a substance from a syringe marked with the letter “F” without verifying its contents. Family members claimed they warned hospital staff that the syringe did not contain the prescribed medicine, but their concerns were allegedly ignored. Shortly after the injection, Sarthak’s condition worsened, and despite efforts by doctors in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, he was declared dead.
The hospital probe reportedly found that the syringe contained formalin, a chemical commonly used for preserving tissue samples in laboratories. Another nursing staff member, Anuka Gujarati, allegedly prepared the formalin-filled syringe for laboratory use and failed to store it securely. The inquiry concluded that the chemical directly caused the child’s death and held the nursing staff responsible for serious negligence. Based on the findings, Bhopal Police registered an FIR on June 11 and booked nursing officer Madhubala Sharma under provisions related to causing death by negligence. Further investigation is underway.