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Goodbye Dr. Robert G. Edwards

I would like to take a chance to rewrite the Washington Post’s obituary for Robert Edwards from today to remove the judgment and instead leave the gratitude many of us feel about his work, as do most people who benefit from advances in science.  Washington Post, what you said was:

Robert G. Edwards, a British physiologist who won a Nobel Prize in 2010 for helping develop the controversial in vitro fertilization techniques that led to the birth of the first “test tube” baby in 1978 and revolutionized childbearing around the world, died April 10 at his home near Cambridge, England. He was 87.

What you should have said was

Robert G. Edwards, a British physiologist who won a Nobel Prize in 2010 for helping pioneer in vitro fertilization techniques that led to the birth of Louise Brown in 1978 and gave hope to both biologically and situationally infertile men and women around the world, died April 10 at his home near Cambridge, England. He was 87.

Just wanted to fix that.  Rest in peace, Dr. Edwards.

 

 

18 comments

1 Katie { 04.10.13 at 1:30 pm }

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

2 Another Dreamer { 04.10.13 at 1:40 pm }

I like your version a lot better.

3 Rachel Gurevich { 04.10.13 at 1:45 pm }

Great rewrite.

And that “test tube baby” thing drives me crazy. Everyone knows what IVF is now, there’s no need to use childish terms like “test tube baby.” If they don’t know what IVF is, the phrase test tube baby won’t help them understand better.

4 KER { 04.10.13 at 1:47 pm }

goosebumps.

5 magpie { 04.10.13 at 1:48 pm }

yeah. what you said.

6 Kathy { 04.10.13 at 1:49 pm }

Thank so much for fixing that.

Rest in peace, Dr. Edwards.

7 Nicole { 04.10.13 at 1:52 pm }

So much better.

I agree that the term test tube baby is annoying. Maybe it is working in chem labs for more than a decade but if they want to talk about glassware and my baby they could at least use the right glassware. Sort of like the use of the word “implant” in inappropriate places.

8 a { 04.10.13 at 1:57 pm }

Whoever wrote that other version should be sent back to journalism school…

9 Ana { 04.10.13 at 2:01 pm }

Controversial? “test tube”? Seriously????? Great edit job, Mel!

10 loribeth { 04.10.13 at 2:46 pm }

Well said. You should send a link to this column to the Post. 😉

11 Lacie { 04.10.13 at 2:50 pm }

I am truly grateful for his life’s work and for the gift of my niece and nephew. Rest in peace, Dr. Edwards.

12 lostintranslation73 { 04.10.13 at 4:07 pm }

Hear hear!

13 Autumn { 04.10.13 at 6:45 pm }

Your version was perfect. I stole it and put it on my facebook.

14 Siochana { 04.10.13 at 10:57 pm }

Thanks. Going to steal your version for my blog too (with accreditation of course)

15 Tiara { 04.11.13 at 7:23 am }

Yes, your’s is way better.

16 WildflowerMom { 04.11.13 at 9:46 am }

Thank you for blogging this. Rest in peace, Dr. Edwards.

17 Kimberly { 04.11.13 at 1:46 pm }

Beautiful edit. Rest peacefully Dr. Edwards.

18 Battynurse { 04.11.13 at 11:03 pm }

Well said.

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