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Sylvia Plath's GP, John Horder, Dies

Camden New Journal reports that Sylvia Plath's GP, Dr. John Horder, has died. A full obituary will appear on their website next week.
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  1. Anonymous07 June, 2012 07:33

    Sad news. ~VC

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  2. Anonymous14 June, 2012 13:01

    The full obituary of Plath's GP with a picture of him in his later years is now up:

    http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2012/jun/obituary-dr-john-horder-%E2%80%98father-modern-general-practice%E2%80%99-who-excelled-pianist-and-arti


    ~VC

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peter K Steinberg14 June, 2012 13:12

    Thank you ~VC!

    pks

    ReplyDelete
  4. Julia Gordon-Bramer21 June, 2012 12:56

    It touched me that he was stated as saying he wondered if he had done all he could to help Sylvia Plath.

    I wonder if Dr. Horder would have agreed with Ted Hughes's blame on an allergy to the anti-depressant, and if Horder might've felt guilt over prescribing it. In those days, nothing was computerized--it would not have been easy to check records unless her previous doctor had forwarded them to him.

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  5. Peter K Steinberg21 June, 2012 13:24

    Julia

    There is some information about this in a paper published in Plath Profiles 2. See Footnote 60, page 97 in Brittney Moraski's The Missing Sequel: Sylvia Plath and Psychiatry which will lead you then to Kate Moses' 2000 Salon.com article "The Real Sylvia Plath," which has more information.

    I recall reading somewhere that the drug Plath was given was under a different name in England, otherwise she herself might have recognized it. It's a tough call! He certainly seemed a kind, caring and sympathetic person and doctor and no doubt he felt the effects of the suicide more than others might have.

    pks

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