Home / Crime and Justice / Tragic Error: Nurse Injects Formalin, Kills Cancer Patient
Tragic Error: Nurse Injects Formalin, Kills Cancer Patient
13 Jun
Summary
- Child died after formalin was injected instead of medicine.
- Nurse allegedly injected toxic chemical marked with 'F'.
- AIIMS probe found nursing staff grossly negligent in the incident.
In December 2025, a three-year-old cancer patient, Sarthak Yadav, tragically died at AIIMS Bhopal. He was admitted on December 15, 2025, for blood cancer treatment. On December 17, 2025, a nurse reportedly injected formalin, a toxic preservative chemical, into his IV line when it was blocked.
Sarthak's father alleges he tried to intervene but was dismissed by the nurse. Following the injection, the child's condition rapidly deteriorated, and he passed away at 8:45 AM despite resuscitation efforts. The family claims hospital staff attempted to remove the IV bottle after the incident.
An internal AIIMS inquiry confirmed that the intravenous administration of formalin was the direct cause of Sarthak's death. The report cited gross negligence by the nursing staff. Nursing officer Madhubala Sharma is accused of administering the chemical, while Anuka Gujarati is blamed for its unsafe storage.
Consequently, a criminal case has been registered against both nurses. Sharma faces charges for causing death by negligence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Gujarati for negligent handling of a hazardous chemical. Both have been suspended by AIIMS management.
