But hospital officials insists her mobility problem stems from a rare disease.

"It's not medical malpractice. The reason lies in motor neurone disease," hospital director Dr Pravit Limkuansuwan said yesterday.

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive neurological disorder that destroys motor neurons, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing and eating.

Ratree Nakchu complained to Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla on Wednesday that negligent treatment at the state hospital in June last year left her unable to walk.

Her son Chaiporn Jammanoch, 28, who accompanied her to the ministry, said the Bt10-million compensation claim was aimed at getting the hospital to take action.

"What we really want is for the hospital to restore my mother's health."

He said Ratree stumbled on a stone in January last year and twisted her left ankle. She was able to walk, but in March she developed ankle pain. A Social Security Fund contributor, she visited a state-run hospital for treatment.

Doctors told her she needed spinal surgery, which she underwent in June. After the operation she started to lose the use of her legs. She is now registered as disabled by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

Chaiporn alleged his mother's doctor admitted misreading an X-ray before recommending the surgery. "It's extremely suspicious my mother's hospital file no longer contains that X-ray film or records of her surgery," he asserted.

Mongkol said he would look into Ratree's case. He is awaiting a hospital report before proceeding.

In response to the complaint, Dr Pravit said Ratree was suffering from a very rare disease, which could not be diagnosed initially because the symptoms develop step by step.

"Firstly, we didn't give her an incorrect treatment. Any hospital would do the same thing as what we did - because there's no exact way to cure this disease," Pravit said.

He insisted the operation had not affected Ratree's condition. She simply did not get better after the operation because her MND symptoms got worse.

The director said the hospital had also given all details to the patient throughout her illness.

He said Lerdsin had referred Ratree to Chulalongkorn Hospital late last year when she asked for it. Ratree also sought treatments from Lerdsin Hospital until March 12.

"But we are willing to explain everything because we have made proper treatments."

Pravit said everything was recorded in Ratree's medical file. "We still keep all documents as evidence, and we're ready for a check," he said.

When asked about the patient's request for compensation for her loss of capacity, Dr Pravit said: " We can't pay for that because it's not our fault - it's from the development of her disease. We did our best."

He said Lerdsin had sent all documents and evidence on Ratree's case to the Public Health Ministry and was now awaiting orders on what to do next.

Saichai Kirdmongkon

The Nation