Obituary: Professor Sir Donald Douglas

Donald Macleod Douglas, surgeon, writer and administrator, born St Andrews 28 June 1911, MBE 1943, Professor of Surgery Dundee (formerly Queen's College) 1951-76 (Emeritus 1977), Surgeon Ninewells Hospital Dundee 1951-76, Surgeon to the Queen in Scotland 1965-76, President of the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh 1971-73, Kt 1972, publications include Wound Healing and Management 1963, The Thoughtful Surgeon 1970, married 1945 Margaret Whitley (two sons, one daughter; and one daughter deceased), died Blairgowrie 28 January 1993.

DONALD DOUGLAS, Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Dundee University and a former surgeon to the Queen in Scotland, was one of the great characters of British, and particularly Scottish, surgery.

As with so many of his generation, many of Douglas's formative years were spent as a surgeon in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War: he served as a surgical specialist with the 8th Army in North Africa and was at the Battle of El Alamein. As a Commonwealth Fellow in the late 1930s Douglas was the first British surgeon to do research work at the Mayo Clinic Research Laboratory at Rochester, Minnesota, where he looked into gastro- intestinal disease. He was intensely proud of this and greatly admired the American way of getting things done. He paved the way, sending a succession of his young colleagues to benefit from a period of training there.

A schoolmaster's son, Douglas was born in St Andrews in 1911 and educated at Madras College and St Andrews University. After the war he became a Reader in Experimental Surgery at Edinburgh University, where he carried out important research into wound healing and worked as an assistant surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. In 1951 he was appointed Professor of Surgery at St Andrews and held the Chair until 1976. He was also consultant surgeon to the Dundee Royal Infirmary and had a crucial influence on the planning of the Ninewells Hospital and Medical School. His objective, since he was a strong supporter of the concept of the National Health Service, was no less than to make it the flagship of the NHS.

Surgeon, scientist, administrator, Donald Douglas was an all- rounder. He was 'the consultant's consultant': he excelled as a clinician, had uncanny clinical judgement and was a supreme operator, qualities which were recognised by his appointment as Surgeon to the Queen in Scotland from 1965 to 1976.

The 'team' was important to Douglas, and his ever productive department was a happy place to be. He and his wife, Margaret, were generous hosts and many will have happy recollections of Christmas parties at their home, when after a beautiful meal the carpet would be rolled up and the eightsome reels enjoined. Often Douglas would provide the music, for he was competent on the piano, 'squeeze-box' and saxophone.

Donald Douglas expected the same high standards that he set himself. No patient of his ever needed the protection of a 'Patients' Charter', for he was meticulous in his every act, and was never known to be late to start an operating list or a busy outpatient session.

His patients loved him as did his staff, whom he always treated with great courtesy. One of the most important influences a young person can come under is that of a good or great teacher. Those who came under Donald Douglas's influence have cause to be grateful.