thetool/application/Patching/Patching.php

<?php

class Patching extends mfBaseModel {
  private $termination;
  private $patcher;
  
  public function getProperty($name) {
    if($this->$name == null) {
      
      if($name == "patcher") {
        $this->patcher = new User($this->patched_by);
        return $this->patcher;
      }

      
      $classname = ucfirst($name);
      $idfield = $name."_id";
      $this->$name = new $classname($this->$idfield);
      
      if($this->$name->id) {
        return $this->$name;
      } else {
        return null;
      }
    }
    
    return $this->$name;
  }
}