In Memoriam: Sybil Shainwald, Advocate for Women’s Health
April 9, 2023 – Manhattan, NY
Legacy of Advocacy
Sybil Shainwald, a prominent attorney known for her unwavering commitment to representing women affected by harmful drugs and medical devices, passed away at the age of 96. Her daughter, Laurie Shainwald Kleeger, confirmed the news, which had not been widely reported.
Early Career and Landmark Case
At 48, Ms. Shainwald joined the law firm Julien, Schlesinger & Finz in New York City. She quickly became involved in a significant case representing Joyce Bichler, a 25-year-old social worker suffering from clear-cell adenocarcinoma, a rare cancer linked to a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES). This synthetic hormone was prescribed to pregnant women despite existing studies indicating its potential risks, including cancer.
Impact of DES
DES was approved by the FDA in 1947 for preventing pregnancy issues, despite evidence that it caused cancer in animal studies and could cross the placenta. Over time, thousands of women, known as “DES daughters,” faced devastating health challenges, including cancers and infertility, as a result of their mothers using this drug during pregnancy.
Shifting Legal Landscape
By the late 1960s, cases of clear-cell adenocarcinoma began appearing in young women whose mothers had taken DES. The FDA ultimately withdrew its recommendation for the drug in 1971, but by then, an estimated five to ten million individuals had already been affected, including both the mothers and their children.
