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Robert G. Edwards

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Doctor

The Resume

    (September 27, 1925-April 10, 2013)
    Born in Batley, England, United Kingdom
    Physiologist and pioneer in in-vitro fertilization (IVF)
    With surgeon Patrick Steptoe, pioneered conception through IVF, leading to the birth of the first ‘test tube baby’ Louise Brown (July 25, 1978)
    With Steptoe, founded Bourn Hall Clinic, the first center for IVF (1980)
    Received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing IVF (2010)
    Knighted for services to reproductive biology (2011)

Why he might be annoying:

    His request for financial support from the British government was rejected on the grounds that he should perfect the process in other primates first before attempting human experimentation. (At the time, he and Steptoe had only had success in rabbits.)
    The committee reviewing his grant application also cited their discomfort with his ‘tendency to seek publicity in the press, television and so on.’
    Over a six year period, he and Steptoe implanted 100 fertilized eggs without getting a viable pregnancy (1972-78).
    His work was condemned by the Vatican.
    By the time the Nobel Prize committee got around to giving him the award, he was too senile to appreciate it.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to Ruth Fowler for 59 years until his death.
    He had to overcome many technical hurdles.
    Safety fears turned out to be unfounded as long-term studies have shown IVF children to be as healthy as other children.
    He gave hope to the estimated 10% of couples unable to conceive naturally.
    By the time he received the Nobel Prize, an estimated four million children had been conceived through IVF.
    First test-tube baby Louise Brown said, ‘I’ve always regarded Robert Edwards as like a grandfather to me.’
    He said, ‘We had a lot of critics, but we fought like hell for our patients.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 387 Votes: 65.12% Annoying