A GYNAECOLOGIST accused of removing a mother's ovaries without her consent during a hysterectomy was cleared of serious professional misconduct yesterday.

Nazar Amso, 53, was said to have deliberately ignored the wishes of Linda Alder 35, when he carried out unnecessary surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

Mrs Alder sobbed as she told the General Medical Council that she made it clear to the doctor he should not remove her ovaries under any circumstances.

But the conduct committee decided he had the consent of the patient, if it was in her best interests to operate.

Chairman Dr Michael Vaile said: "The committee feel that if Mrs Alder had been as adamant as she maintained that her ovaries were not to be removed, Mr Amso would have recorded that in the notes of his consultations with her.

"The committee accept that Mr Amso approached his clinical duties with care."

Mrs Alder, who works for Gateshead Council, said that she only agreed to undergo the operation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, in June 1996, on condition that she kept her ovaries.

But Dr Amso claimed he removed the ovaries only after considering all the options and told the hearing: "I did all I could."

The committee rejected the charge it was not necessary to remove the ovaries or that the doctor's behaviour was inappropriate, unreasonable and contrary to Mrs Alder's interests.

Mr Amso, now working in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Wales in Cardiff, had denied serious professional misconduct.