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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                        EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
                        2001 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                           FOR UNITED STATES EMPLOYEES

                            (EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2001)

                              ARTICLE I -- PURPOSE

1.01.    PURPOSE

The Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan for
United States Employees is intended to provide a method whereby employees of
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and its participating subsidiary corporations
(hereinafter referred to, unless the context otherwise requires, as the
"Company") will have an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the
Company through the purchase of shares of the Common Stock of the Company
("Stock"). It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an
"employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"). The provisions of the Plan shall be construed so
as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the
requirements of Code Section 423.

                           ARTICLE II -- DEFINITIONS

2.01.    BASE PAY

"Base Pay" shall mean regular straight-time earnings plus commissions and
payments in lieu of regular earnings (such as vacation, sick pay and holiday
pay). In the case of a part-time hourly employee, such employee's base pay
during an Offering shall be determined by multiplying such employee's hourly
rate of pay by the number of regularly scheduled hours of work for such employee
during such Offering.

2.02.    COMMITTEE

"Committee" shall mean the individuals appointed by the Company to administer
the Plan as described in Article IX.

2.03.    ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE

"Eligible Employee" means any regular employee of the Company who is paid from
the United States payroll and is scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week.

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2.04.    ENROLLMENT PERIOD

"Enrollment Period" shall mean with respect to any Offering, the period
designated by the Committee prior to such Offering during which Eligible
Employees may authorize payroll deductions through a Subscription. Unless the
Committee determines otherwise, the Enrollment Period with respect to any
Offering shall end on the twenty-fifth day of the month immediately preceding
the Offering Commencement Date or, if such day is not a business day, the
immediately preceding business day, and any Subscription received after such
date shall be deemed to be an enrollment in the next following Offering.

2.05.    FAIR MARKET VALUE

The "Fair Market Value" of a share of Stock on a given day shall be determined
as follows: (i) if the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a
national market system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price
for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sale is reported) as quoted on such
exchange or system for the last market trading day prior to the time of
determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as
the Committee deems reliable; or (ii) in the absence of an established market
for the Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith
by the Committee.

2.06.    OFFERING COMMENCEMENT DATE

"Offering Commencement Date" shall mean June 1, 2001, and unless determined
otherwise by the Committee, the first day of each calendar quarter thereafter.

2.07.    OFFERING

"Offering" shall mean the quarterly offering of the Company's Stock.

2.08.    OFFERING END DATE

"Offering End Date" shall mean, with respect to each Offering, the day preceding
the second annual anniversary of the Offering Commencement Date for such
Offering.

2.09.    PARTICIPANT

"Participant" shall mean an Eligible Employee who has elected to participate in
an Offering by entering a Subscription during the Enrollment Period for such
Offering.

2.10.    PLAN

"Plan" shall mean the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 2001 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan for United States Employees, as amended from time to time.


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2.11.    PURCHASE DATE

"Purchase Date" shall mean with respect to any Offering, the last day of each
calendar quarter during the period beginning with the Offering Commencement Date
for such Offering and ending with the Offering End Date; provided, however, if
any such day is not a business day, the Purchase Date shall be the next
preceding business date on which shares of Stock are traded.

2.12.    SUBSCRIPTION

"Subscription" shall mean an Eligible Employee's authorization for payroll
deductions made in the form and manner specified by the Committee (which may
include enrollment by submitting forms, by voice response, internet access or
other electronic means). Unless withdrawn earlier in accordance with Section
6.02, each Subscription shall be in effect for 24 months. No more than one
Subscription may be in effect for an Eligible Employee during any calendar
quarter.

2.13.    SUBSIDIARY CORPORATION

"Subsidiary Corporation" shall mean any present or future corporation which
would be a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company as that term is defined in
Section 424 of the Code.

                  ARTICLE III -- ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

3.01.    INITIAL ELIGIBILITY

Any individual who is an Eligible Employee on an Offering Commencement Date
shall be eligible to participate in the Offering commencing on such date,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

3.02.    LEAVE OF ABSENCE

For purposes of participation in the Plan, a Participant on a leave of absence
shall be deemed to be an employee for a period of up to 90 days or, if longer,
during the period the Participant's right to reemployment is guaranteed by
statute or contract. If the leave of absence is paid, deductions authorized
under any Subscription in effect at the time the leave began will continue. If
the leave of absence is unpaid, no deductions or contributions will be permitted
during the leave. If such a Participant returns to active status within 90 days
or the guaranteed reemployment period, as applicable, payroll deductions under
the Subscription in effect at the time the leave began will automatically begin
again upon the Participant's return to active status, unless the Subscription
Period has expired. If the Participant does not return to active status within
90 days or the guaranteed reemployment period, as applicable, the Participant
shall be treated as having terminated employment for all purposes of the Plan.
If such individual later returns to active employment as an Eligible Employee,
such individual will be treated as a new employee and will be eligible to
participate in Offerings commencing after his or her reemployment date by filing
a Subscription during the applicable Enrollment Period for such Offering.


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3.03.    RESTRICTIONS ON PARTICIPATION

Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee
shall be granted an option to participate in the Plan:

         (a)      if, immediately after the grant, such employee would own
                  stock, and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock,
                  possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or
                  value of all classes of stock of the Company (for purposes of
                  this paragraph, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall
                  apply in determining stock ownership of any employee); or

         (b)      which permits the employee's rights to purchase stock under
                  all employee stock purchase plans of the Company to accrue at
                  a rate which exceeds $25,000 in Fair Market Value of the stock
                  (determined at the time such option is granted) for each
                  calendar year in which such option is outstanding.

Further, with respect to any Offering, in no event shall an employee be granted
an option to purchase in excess of 10,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 10.03.

3.04.    COMMENCEMENT OF PARTICIPATION

An Eligible Employee may become a Participant in any Offering by entering a
Subscription during the Enrollment Period for such Offering. Payroll deductions
for such Offering shall commence on the applicable Offering Commencement Date
and shall end on the applicable Offering End Date unless withdrawn by the
Participant or sooner terminated in accordance with Article VII. Only one
Subscription may be in effect with respect to any Participant at any one time.

3.05.    PARTICIPATION AFTER REHIRE

An Eligible Employee's Subscription will automatically terminate on his or her
termination of employment with the Company. If the Eligible Employee terminates
employment with a Subscription in effect with respect to an Offering and is
rehired prior to the Offering End Date for that Offering, the Subscription will
not be reinstated and the Eligible Employee will not be allowed to again make
payroll deductions under such Offering. The Eligible Employee may elect to
participate in Offerings commencing after his or her reemployment date by
entering a Subscription during the applicable Enrollment Period for such
Offering.

3.06.    INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEES/INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

Eligible Employees who transfer to the United States and are placed on a U. S.
payroll may not participate in Offerings which had an Offering Commencement Date
prior to such transfer, regardless of whether such Eligible Employee was
participating in an offering under a stock purchase plan for international
employees prior to the transfer. Such Eligible Employee may participate in
Offerings commencing after such transfer, by entering a Subscription during the
applicable Enrollment Period for such Offering.


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A Participant who transfers outside of the United States and is no longer paid
on a U.S. payroll will be treated as a terminated Participant under this Plan.
For purposes of the Plan, Puerto Rico is not considered U.S. payroll.

                            ARTICLE IV -- OFFERINGS

4.01.    QUARTERLY OFFERINGS

The Plan will be implemented by Offerings beginning on June 1, 2001 and, unless
determined otherwise by the Committee, on the first day of each calendar quarter
thereafter. Eligible Employees may not have in effect more than one Subscription
at a time.

Participants may subscribe to any Offering by entering a Subscription during the
Enrollment Period for such Offering in such manner as the Committee may
prescribe (which may include enrollment by submitting forms, by voice response,
internet access or other electronic means).

A Subscription that is in effect on an Offering End Date will automatically be
deemed to be a Subscription for the Offering that commences immediately
following such Offering End Date, provided that the Participant is still an
Eligible Employee and has not withdrawn the Subscription. Under the foregoing
automatic enrollment provisions, payroll deductions will continue at the level
in effect immediately prior to the new Offering Commencement Date, unless
changed in advance by the Participant in accordance with Section 5.03.

4.02.    PURCHASE PRICE

The purchase price per share of Stock under each Offering shall be the lower of:

         (a)      85% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Offering
                  Commencement Date; or

         (b)      85% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Purchase
                  Date.

Such purchase price may only be paid with accumulated payroll deductions in
accordance with Article V.

                        ARTICLE V -- PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

5.01.    AMOUNT OF DEDUCTION

An Eligible Employee's Subscription shall authorize payroll deductions at a
rate, in whole percentages, of no less than 1% and no more than 12% of Base Pay
on each payday that the Subscription is in effect.


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5.02.    PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT

All payroll deductions made with respect to a Participant shall be credited to
his or her recordkeeping account under the Plan. A Participant may not make any
separate cash payment into such account. No interest will accrue or be paid on
any amount withheld from a Participant's pay under the Plan or credited to the
Participant's account. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.02, all
amounts in a Participant's account will be used to purchase Stock and no cash
refunds shall be made from such account. Any amounts remaining in a
Participant's account pursuant to the Participant's Subscription election or
because of the limitations of Section 3.03 shall be returned to the Participant
without interest and will not be used to purchase shares with respect to any
other Offering under the Plan.

5.03.    CHANGES IN PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

During an Offering Period, a Participant may change his or her level of payroll
deduction with respect to such Offering within the limits described in Section
5.01 in accordance with procedures established by the Committee (including,
without limitation, rules relating to the frequency of such changes); provided,
however, if the Participant reduces his or her payroll deductions to zero, it
shall be deemed to be a withdrawal of the Subscription and the Participant may
not thereafter participate in such Offering but must wait until the next
quarterly Offering to resubscribe to the Plan. Any such discontinuance or change
in level shall be effective as soon as administratively practicable.

                        ARTICLE VI -- EXERCISE OF OPTION

6.01.    AUTOMATIC EXERCISE

A Participant's option for the purchase of Stock with respect to any Offering
will be automatically exercised on each Purchase Date for the Offering. The
option will be exercised by using the accumulated payroll deductions in the
Participant's account as of each such Purchase Date to purchase the number of
full and fractional shares of Stock that may be purchased at the purchase price
on such date, determined in accordance with Section 4.02.

6.02.    WITHDRAWAL FROM OFFERING

A Participant may not withdraw the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
account during an Offering Period. If the Participant withdraws his or her
Subscription with respect to any Offering, the accumulated payroll deductions in
the Participant's account at the time the Subscription is withdrawn will be used
to purchase shares of Stock at the next Purchase Date for the Offering to which
the Subscription related, in accordance with Section 6.01.

6.03.    DELIVERY OF STOCK

Stock purchases under the Plan will be held in an account in the Participant's
name in uncertificated form unless certification is requested by the
Participant.


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                           ARTICLE VII -- WITHDRAWAL

7.01.    EFFECT ON SUBSEQUENT PARTICIPATION

A Participant's election to withdraw from any Offering will not have any effect
upon the Participant's eligibility to participate in any succeeding Offering or
in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.

7.02.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

Subject to the following provisions of this Section 7.02, upon termination of
the Participant's employment for any reason, any Subscription then in effect
will be deemed to have been withdrawn and any payroll deductions credited to the
Participant's account will be used to purchase Stock on the next Purchase Date
for the Offering with respect to which such deductions relate. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the Participant has a Subscription in effect on the
Participant's termination of employment, payroll deductions (at the rate in
effect on the termination date) shall continue to be made from Base Pay earned
prior to termination of employment, if any, that is paid to the Participant
after such termination of employment and before the earlier of (i) the
three-month anniversary of such termination of employment, or (ii) the Offering
End Date of such Offering. Any such payroll deduction shall be used to purchase
Stock on the next Purchase Date for the Offering after the deduction is made.

                             ARTICLE VIII -- STOCK

8.01.    MAXIMUM SHARES

The maximum number of shares which may be issued under the Plan, subject to
adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section
10.03, shall be 1,500,000 shares. If the total number of shares for which
options are exercised on any Purchase Date in accordance with Article IV exceeds
the maximum number of shares for the applicable Offering, the Company shall make
a pro rata allocation of the shares available for delivery and distribution in
as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to
be equitable, and the balance of payroll deductions credited to the account of
each Participant under the Plan shall be returned to him as promptly as
possible.

8.02.    PARTICIPANT'S INTEREST IN OPTION STOCK

The Participant will have no interest in Stock covered by an option under the
Plan until such option has been exercised.

8.03.    REGISTRATION OF STOCK

Stock to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the
name of the Participant.


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                          ARTICLE IX -- ADMINISTRATION

9.01.    APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE

The Board of Directors shall appoint a Committee to administer the Plan. No
member of the Committee who is not an Eligible Employee shall be eligible to
purchase Stock under the Plan.

9.02.    AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE

Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have plenary
authority in its discretion to interpret and construe any and all provisions of
the Plan, to adopt rules and regulations for administering the Plan, and to make
all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the
Plan. The Committee's determination on the foregoing matters shall be
conclusive. The Committee shall also have the authority to determine whether the
employees of divisions or subsidiaries of the Company organized or acquired
after the Effective Date shall be eligible for participation in the Plan.

9.03.    RULES GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMITTEE

The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint members of the Committee in
substitution for or in addition to members previously appointed and may fill
vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee may select one of its
members as its Chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and places as
it shall deem advisable and may hold telephonic meetings. A majority of its
members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be
made by a majority of its members. The Committee may correct any defect or
omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in the manner and to the
extent it shall deem desirable. Any decision or determination reduced to writing
and signed by a majority of the members of the Committee shall be as fully
effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and
held. The Committee may appoint a secretary and shall make such rules and
regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.

9.04.    STATEMENTS

Each Participant shall receive a statement of his account showing the number of
shares of Stock held and the amount of cash credited to such account. Such
statements will be provided as soon as administratively feasible following the
end of each calendar quarter.

                           ARTICLE X -- MISCELLANEOUS

10.01.   TRANSFERABILITY

Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant's account nor any rights
with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive Stock under the Plan may
be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of in any way by the
Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such
attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be


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without effect. During a Participant's lifetime, options held by such
Participant shall be exercisable only by that Participant.

10.02.   USE OF FUNDS

All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under this Plan may be
used by the Company for any corporate purpose and the Company shall not be
obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

10.03.   ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

In the event of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
reclassification or combination of shares, merger, spin-off or similar event,
the Committee shall adjust equitably (a) the number and class of shares or other
securities that are reserved for sale under the Plan, (b) the number and class
of shares or other securities that are subject to outstanding options, (c) the
maximum number of shares that can be purchased by a Participant with respect to
any Offering and (d) the appropriate market value and other price determinations
applicable to options. The Committee shall make all determinations under this
Section 10.03, and all such determinations shall be conclusive and binding.

10.04.   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The Board of Directors shall have complete power and authority to terminate or
amend the Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that the Board
of Directors shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company
in accordance with Section 423 of the Code, (i) increase the maximum number of
shares which may be issued under any Offering (except pursuant to Section
10.03); (ii) amend the requirements as to the class of employees eligible to
purchase stock under the Plan; or (iii) permit members of the Committee who are
not Eligible Employees to purchase stock under the Plan.

Upon a termination of the Plan, the date of termination shall be considered a
Purchase Date, and any cash remaining in Participant accounts will be applied to
the purchase of Stock. Upon termination, the Board of Directors shall have the
authority to establish administrative procedures regarding the exercise of
unpurchased shares or to determine that such exercise shall not be permitted
under the Plan.

10.05.   EFFECTIVE DATE

This Plan shall be effective as of June 1, 2001, subject to prior approval by
the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 423 of the Code.

10.06.   NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create any right for the benefit of
any employee or class of employees to purchase any shares under the Plan, or
create in any employee or class of employees any right with respect to
continuation of employment by the Company, and it shall not


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be deemed to interfere in any way with the Company's right to terminate, or
otherwise modify, an employee's employment at any time.

10.07.   EFFECT OF PLAN

The provisions of the Plan shall, in accordance with its terms, be binding upon,
and inure to the benefit of, all successors of each employee participating in
the Plan, including, without limitation, such employee's estate and the
executors, administrators or trustees thereof, heirs and legatees, and any
receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of creditors of such employee.

10.08.   GOVERNING LAW

The law of the State of California will govern all matters relating to this Plan
except to the extent it is superseded by the laws of the United States.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed on
the 21st day of March, 2001.

                                             EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION

                                             By:  /s/ Robert C. Reindl
                                                 -------------------------------

                                             Its: Corporate Vice President,
                                                  Human Resources
                                                 -------------------------------

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