Patrick Christopher Steptoe 1311540 225651423 2008-07-14T19:07:25Z 86.161.34.230 /* Laparoscopic Pioneer */ {{Infobox Medical Person |name = Patrick Christopher Steptoe |image = Replace_this_image_male.svg |box_width = |image_width = 150px |caption = Patrick Christopher Steptoe |birth_date = [[June 9]],[[1913]] |birth_place = [[Oxford]], [[England]] |death_date = {{death date and age|1988|03|21|1913|06|09}} |death_place = |profession = [[Physician]] |specialism = [[obstetrics]] and [[gynaecology]] |research_field = [[in vitro fertilization]] |known_for = Development of ''in vitro'' fertilization |years_active = 1939-1988 |education = [[King's College London]]<br>[[St George's, University of London|St George's Hospital Medical School]] |work_institutions = [[Oldham General Hospital]]<br>[[Bourn Hall Clinic]] |prizes = |relations = }} '''Patrick Christopher Steptoe''' ([[June 9]],[[1913]], [[Oxford]], England - [[March 21]],[[1988]], [[Canterbury]]) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[obstetrics|obstetrician]] and [[gynaecology|gynaecologist]] and a pioneer of [[fertility]] treatment. Steptoe was responsible with [[biology|biologist]] and [[physiology|physiologist]] [[Robert Edwards (physiologist)|Robert Edwards]] for developing [[in vitro fertilization|''in vitro'' fertilization]]. The [[childbirth|birth]] of the first [[test-tube baby]], [[Louise Joy Brown]], occurred on [[July 25]], [[1978]]. ==Education== Steptoe was educated at [[King's College London]] and graduated from [[St George's, University of London|St George's Hospital Medical School]], [[London]] in 1939. ==Laparoscopic Pioneer== After the [[Second World War]], he studied [[obstetrics]] and, in 1951 he started to work at the [[Oldham General Hospital]]. From Mr. [[Raoul Palmer]] he learned the technique of [[laparoscopy]] and promoted its usefulness. In 1967 he published a book on ''Laparoscopy in Gynaecology''. Subsequently, [[Robert Edwards (physiologist)|Robert Edwards]], a physiologist from the [[University of Cambridge]], contacted him and got him interested to collaborate in the development of ''in vitro fertilization''. [[Image:Bourn Hall, Cambridgeshire.jpg|thumb|right|Bourn Hall Clinic]] ==Work with Edwards== Steptoe became the Director of the Centre for Human Reproduction, [[Oldham]] in 1969. Using laparoscopy, he collected the [[ovum|ova]] from volunteering infertile women who saw his place as their last hope to achieve a pregnancy. Edwards and his assistant Jean Purdy provided the laboratory expertise. During this time they had to endure criticism and hostility to their work. Finally, in 1978, the birth of Louise Brown changed everything. Although he encountered further criticism, other clinics were able to follow the lead and patients responded. To accommodate the increased patient number and train specialists, he and Edwards founded the [[Bourn Hall Clinic]], [[Cambridgeshire]] in 1980 of which he was a Medical Director until his death. He was succeeded by [[Peter Brinsden]]. ==References== *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:9876723 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9876723 |last=Litynski |first=G S |publication-date= |year= |title=Patrick C. Steptoe: laparoscopy, sterilization, the test-tube baby, and mass media. |volume=2 |issue=1 |periodical=JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons / Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons |pages=99-101 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11619339 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11619339 |last=Edwards |first=R G |publication-date=1996 |year=[[1996]] |title=Patrick Christopher Steptoe, C.B.E.: 9 June 1913 - 22 March 1988. |volume=42 |issue= |periodical=Biographical memoirs of fellows of the Royal Society. Royal Society (Great Britain) |pages=435-52 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11645394 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11645394 |publication-date=1979 Feb 19 |year=[[1979]] |title=Dr. Steptoe's full report--at last. |volume=20 |issue=4 |periodical=Medical world news |pages=10-11+ }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11648723 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11648723 |last=Weintraub |first=Richard M |publication-date=1978 Jul 26 |year=[[1978]] |title=First test-tube baby born in British hospital. |volume= |issue= |periodical=Washington post (Washington, D.C. : 1974) |pages=A1+ }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11662500 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11662500 |last=Gwynne |first=Peter |last2=Collings |first2=Anthony |last3=Gastel |first3=Barbara |publication-date=1978 Jul 24 |year=[[1978]] |title=The test-tube baby. |volume=92 |issue=4 |periodical=Newsweek |pages=76 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11648647 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11648647 |last=Nossiter |first=Bernard |publication-date=1978 Jul 27 |year=[[1978]] |title=Test tube baby 'well': doctors predict more successes. |volume= |issue= |periodical=Washington post (Washington, D.C. : 1974) |pages=A1+ }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11648651 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11648651 |publication-date=1978 Jul 27 |year=[[1978]] |title=By-passing a block to conception. |volume= |issue= |periodical=Times (London, England : 1788) |pages=15 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11662645 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11662645 |last=Hathout |first=H |publication-date=1978 Sep |year=[[1978]] |title=Test tube babies! |volume=12 |issue=3 |periodical=The Journal of the Kuwait Medical Association |pages=135-6 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:12088000 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12088000 |last=Shearer |first=Lloyd |publication-date=1978 Oct 8 |year=[[1978]] |title=Next: twin tube babies? |volume= |issue= |periodical=Parade (New York, N.Y.) |pages=23 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11648949 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11648949 |last=Cohn |first=Victor |publication-date=1978 Oct 12 |year=[[1978]] |title=Test-tube baby pioneer urges easing of curbs. |volume= |issue= |periodical=Washington post (Washington, D.C. : 1974) |pages=A26 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11662640 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11662640 |last=Hand |first=G Othell |publication-date=1978 Dec 1 |year=[[1978]] |title=The manipulation of existence: conceiving the inconceivable. |volume=45 |issue=4 |periodical=Vital speeches of the day |pages=98-102 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:10315865 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10315865 |publication-date=1979 Feb 23 |year=[[1979]] |title=In vitro fertilization questions remain: no ethics problem, Dr. Steptoe says. |volume=22 |issue=8 |periodical=American medical news |pages=1, 15-6 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:11665072 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11665072 |publication-date=1979 Feb 19 |year=[[1979]] |title=That baby again. |volume=113 |issue=8 |periodical=Time |pages=82 }} *{{Citation |id = [[PMID]]:8817236 |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8817236 |last=Edwards |first=R G |publication-date=1996 |year=[[1996]] |title=The history of assisted human conception with especial reference to endocrinology. |volume=104 |issue=3 |periodical=Exp. Clin. Endocrinol. Diabetes |pages=183-204 }} [[Category:English doctors|Steptoe, Patrick]] [[Category:gynecologists|Steptoe, Patrick]] [[Category:In vitro fertilisation|Steptoe]] [[Category:Alumni of King's College London|Steptoe, Patrick]] [[Category:Alumni of St George's, University of London|Steptoe, Patrick]] [[Category:1913 births|Steptoe, Patrick]] [[Category:1988 deaths|Steptoe, Patrick]] [[de:Patrick Steptoe]] [[fr:Patrick Steptoe]]