Madam, – Arminta Wallace refers to Robert Edwards (Cambridge biologist) who has won this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine for his part in the development of In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) (Science Today October 7th). This award is well deserved and long overdue. However, she named Robert Edwards as the "father of the technique of IVF" without reference to the other leader of the outstanding research team whose meticulous work led to the birth of the first baby conceived by IVF – Louise Brown in July 1978. Leadership of the team was shared by Edwards and Patrick Steptoe (gynaecologist, Oldham) and the chief scientific officer was Jean Purdy. The years of research and the birth of Louise Browne are described in their book A Matter of Life, published in 1980.
I trained with Patrick Steptoe in Oldham and saw the meticulous way he developed and refined Raol Palmer’s laparoscope which was essential to the technique of IVF.
Patrick Steptoe was born 1913 died 1988. His obituary in the British Medical Journal, April 16th, 1988 speaks of him as the man who probably did more than anyone else in this century to change the face of gynaecology for the better.
Patrick Steptoe’s name should be linked with Robert Edwards when the development of IVF is remembered. – Yours, etc,