Photo: VCG

The Chongqing Municipal Health Commission said on Saturday that, following online reports alleging that Children’ s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University had injected a child patient with a drug suspected of being ineffective, a preliminary investigation by a special task force found that the doctor involved had improperly stored the medication and will be dealt with seriously in accordance with laws and regulations, Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the initial investigation, the child, surnamed Ma, was admitted to the department of neurology at the hospital on December 9, 2025, after being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (Type II), and received an intrathecal injection of nusinersen sodium, said the report. 

On the day of treatment, after retrieving the medication, the doctor placed the drug in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator at 1:54 pm, transferred it to the refrigeration compartment at 2:17 pm, removed it for warming at 2:24 pm, and began the intrathecal injection at 2:34 pm following a successful lumbar puncture. No adverse reactions were observed during post-injection monitoring, and the child was discharged on December 10, according to Xinhua.

After discharge, the patient’s family reported that the instructions for nusinersen sodium specify that the drug should be stored at 2C–8C and must not be frozen, raising concerns that the injected medication may have become ineffective. 

The preliminary investigation confirmed that the doctor had violated regulations on drug storage. The Chongqing Municipal Health Commission said it will handle the case strictly in accordance with laws and regulations, prioritizing the protection of the child’s health and active treatment. Relevant medical experts have been promptly organized to conduct consultations, assess the impact on the child’s condition, further develop a treatment plan, and ensure timely, professional, and standardized medical care, Xinhua reported.

The commission added that it will continue to conduct an in-depth investigation, strengthen oversight of medical quality and safety, standardize medical personnel’s clinical practices, and prevent irregular operations in medical services, per the report.

Global Times