They demanded the ministry make a statement to the effect it would not appeal, as recommended by the Finance Ministry.

On learning of its recommendation to appeal the Nonthaburi Provincial Court ruling, Chanayuth Patangthane's parents took him to the ministry.

His mother, Tiwakarn Onyai and father, Chaiya Oatangthane, yesterday said they would not budge until the ministry made a statement saying it would not appeal.

Chanayuth was left physically and mentally disabled after going into shock and stopping breathing during a drilling and filling dental procedure at Chumsaeng Hospital in Nakhon Sawan in March 2003.

The court earlier this year awarded him Bt3.4 million in damages and another Bt1.07 million to his mother.

With the help of two consumer-rights NGOs, the family travelled from their home in Nakhon Sawan carrying makeshift posters reading "What price for my son's life?" and "Appealing for your dignity, or running away from the truth?"

"We're very upset to hear that the ministry is tempted to appeal ... what a long ordeal we've been through," said Tiwakarn.

In a separate interview, Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said he had not received the Finance Ministry's written recommendation about the boy's case so far. However, he said if the Finance Ministry recommended that the ministry appeal, the latter would have to do just that.

But Pinij said no matter what the outcome of any appeal, the ministry would provide assistance to the family on the basis of mercy.

Joining the Patangthane family yesterday was the family of a seven-year-old girl who accused Ratchaburi Hospital of rendering their daughter disabled.

Dollaporn Lorsermvattana, head of the Thai Iatrogenic Network, said the girl was suffering from hydrocephalus, which she said was caused by a vaccination given at the hospital seven years ago.

Arthit Khwankhom

The Nation