Child Killed at AIIMS Bhopal: The Medical Negligence Story Gets Darker

Sarthak Yadav celebrated his third birthday on December 11, 2025, with his parents Siddharth Yadav and Raja Devi Yadav in Bina tehsil, Madhya Pradesh. He had been diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a blood cancer common in children. For two months, the family traveled to AIIMS Bhopal for chemotherapy, trusting the premier institution with their son's life.

Six days later, on December 17, 2025, Sarthak died not from cancer but from a fatal dose of formalin injected into his IV line by a nurse. His father pleaded with the nurse three times to stop, but she dismissed him, saying, "Are you the doctor or are we the doctors?" The formalin, a hazardous chemical used to preserve biopsy samples, caused immediate cardiovascular collapse.

The incident occurred after a bone marrow biopsy scheduled for December 16 was postponed. Nurse Anuka Gujarati left a formalin-filled syringe on the tray near the child's bed overnight, violating protocol. The next morning, nurse Madhubala Sharma used that syringe to flush the IV line without checking its contents.

After Sarthak's death, Sharma snatched the syringe from the father's hand, and the hospital staff cleared the scene, removing all evidence. AIIMS Bhopal's internal inquiry found both nurses negligent, but the police filed an FIR only six months later, in June 2026. Neither nurse has been arrested.

Police are now seeking a report from AIIMS on disciplinary actions taken against the nurses. The case highlights systemic failures in medical negligence handling in India. The grieving family continues to seek justice, while questions remain about accountability and transparency at one of India's top medical institutions.