DERA GHAZI KHAN, Oct 23: The District Headquarters Hospital's gynaecologist is alleged to have displayed professional delinquency by leaving a piece of cloth in the abdomen of a woman during her caesarean operation.

The cloth piece was discovered after three weeks when the woman had to undergo another operation at a private hospital.

Reports said senior medical officer Ghazala Shahid conducted operation of Mst Khalida, wife of Muhammad Aziz, but forgot to take out a piece of cloth meant for cleaning before stitching wounds. However, the woman instead of recuperating found herself in trouble so much so that her condition deteriorated within days.

Mr Aziz told this correspondent at a private hospital that her wife gave birth to a baby girl at the DHQ hospital three weeks ago through a caesarean operation conducted by MO Ghazala Shahid. However, he said, the patient could not recover properly as her wounds did not heal due to septic and she complained of pain in the abdomen. "We again consulted the lady doctor, but she could not diagnose the actual cause of regular pain, which left the patient in critical condition."

He said his wife was brought to a private hospital where she underwent a major operation during which half-meter-long piece of cloth usually used for cleansing was discovered from her abdomen.

When contacted, the doctor at the private hospital told this correspondent on the request of anonymity that the condition of the patient was out of danger.

Dr Ghazala was, however, not available for comments. It is pertinent to mention here that she had once left a piece of blade in the abdomen of patient during operation when she was posted at the Jampur THQ hospital.

DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Shahid Bhatti, the husband of the suspect, said the operation was conducted by Dr Mussarat Faheem while his wife Dr Ghazala only assisted her.

Dr Mussarat, however, claimed that it was Dr Ghazala who conducted the operation and she was her assistant. After the operation, she said, Dr Ghazala looked after the patient for several days and now only she could explain the actual position and condition of the patient.

KILLED: Two persons were killed and another injured in a clash between two groups over a land dispute on Saturday at mauza Kama in Choti Zaireen police station precinct.