PRAGUE &#8212; It took five long months for a Czech woman to discover the reason for her pain: Doctors had left a foot-long medical tool inside her abdomen.<br> <br> This month, doctors at a clinic in the southeastern town of Ivancice discovered their colleagues had forgotten to remove a spatula-like surgical instrument from the woman following gynecological surgery in September.<br> <br> Top regional official Michal Hasek apologized to Zdenka Kopeckova, 66, and said Monday that the region, which is in charge of the clinic, plans to compensate her.<br> <br> Clinic head Jaromir Hrubes blamed "a series of individual failures" and said four employees had been punished.<br> <br> CT24 news television reported that the woman, who complained repeatedly to her doctors about the pain, plans to sue.