Patrick Gowans Laing was an orthopaedic surgeon in Pittsburgh, United States, and a pioneering researcher into the use of safe metals for surgical implants. He was born in Putney, London, on 8 November 1923, the son of Harold James Gowans Laing, a major in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Elsie Laing née Mackey, a novelist and journalist. He came from a long line of doctors, dating back to James Gowans Laing, a doctor in Scotland in the early 19th century. Patrick's early childhood was chaotic, and he moved between caregivers in France and England, and in various parts of East Africa. By age nine, Patrick was brought back to England, where he settled in the care of his Uncle Reg and Aunt Dolly. He attended boarding school in Romsey, Hampshire. Here the head teacher provided the stability and inspiration Patrick needed to excel at sport and at his academic work. In 1939 he enrolled at Southampton University College to begin his medical studies. He then went on to King's College, London, qualifying in 1945. His studies in wartime London were accompanied by frequent air bombings, however Patrick continued to get high marks and to enjoy student life! He held house posts at King's and then joined the Royal Air Force as a flight lieutenant in the Medical Corps. Following his demobilisation, he began his training in orthopaedics, at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, at King's, Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, and at Lewisham Hospital. He gained his FRCS in 1948, aged just 25. From 1950 to 1952 he was a senior registrar at Pembury, Kent, and then, from 1952 to 1954, in Bradford. He 1954 he emigrated to Canada, where he was a resident surgeon in New Brunswick. A year later he moved on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he held a year-long fellowship in cerebral palsy at the Children's Hospital. In 1956 he became an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, and, from 1968, was a clinical professor. Patrick was involved in the early development of bone replacement surgery. In the aftermath of the Second World War, it was clear to him that most of the implants used to repair complicated orthopaedic injuries were unsuitable. This was due in large part to the body's reaction to the materials used to make the implants. Over a period of three decades, Patrick sought to identify the metals best suited for use in orthopaedic implants, such as hip replacements. His research showed that alloys of titanium, chromium and certain types of stainless steel were (and remain) the most suitable. These studies provided the basis of what is now the field of biomedical metallurgy. In 1962, as a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Patrick was instrumental in forming the medical and surgical materials and devices committee. This committee provided metallurgists with a platform to make recommendations for setting high, scientifically-based and credible manufacturing standards. In recognition of his lifelong contribution, the committee changed the name of their award of merit to the Patrick G Laing award. As a leading member of the American delegation, Patrick also made substantial contributions to the International Organization for Standardization, ensuring that science-based standards for implants were internationally upheld. With Brian Williamson in Cambridge, Patrick also contributed significantly to the research that led to a worldwide switch from steel to stainless steel for all surgical instruments. During his early professional career he found time to write poetry and paint. Later, in his rare moments of leisure time, Patrick enjoyed the outdoors - nature walks, bird watching, camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing and scuba diving. He is remembered as always having some form of camera with him, whether above or below water. As he got older, he pursued his interests in poetry, stamp collecting and listening to music. In 1945 he married Stephanie ('Judy') Townley, a fellow medical student. The following year their daughter, Janet, was born. Sadly, his marriage was short lived. In 1957 he married Patricia Kromer, with whom he had five children: Catherine, Deirdre, James, Walter and Elizabeth. He died on 28 March 2012, aged 88, and was survived by Judy and Patricia, his six children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.