1 dead, 2 in critical condition after chemotherapy injections at Japan hospital

One teenage leukemia patient died and two others have fallen unconscious after undergoing chemotherapy injections at a children's hospital near Tokyo, local media reported on Thursday.



The Saitama Prefectural Children's Medical Center in Saitama City reported the cases to police on Tuesday after discovering that the patients' spinal fluid contained a cancer drug that should not have been administered around the spinal cord, according to Kyodo News.



The drug in question was not part of the cancer medication originally prescribed, and no records of its administration were found. The hospital, therefore, notified police, NHK reported.



After receiving the injections between January and October last year, all three patients developed neurological symptoms such as difficulty walking. One male patient in his teens died this February.



The hospital has launched a full investigation into the cases. It has not ruled out the possibility of either a criminal act or a serious medical accident.