Sybil Shainwald, a prominent lawyer known for her advocacy on behalf of women who suffered health issues due to poorly tested drugs and medical devices, passed away on April 9 at her home in Manhattan. She was 96 years old. Her daughter, Laurie Shainwald Kleeger, confirmed the news, which had not received widespread coverage.
Shainwald began her career at the law firm Julien, Schlesinger & Finz after graduating from law school at the age of 48. One of her first significant cases involved representing Joyce Bichler, a woman diagnosed with clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix, attributed to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic hormone taken by her mother during pregnancy.
Although studies in 1947 indicated that DES could cause cancer and harm fetuses, it was marketed as a safe treatment for various pregnancy-related conditions. By the late 1960s, cases of the rare cancer began emerging among young women who had been exposed to DES, leading the FDA to recommend discontinuing its use in 1971. An estimated five to ten million individuals had been exposed to the drug by that time.
In 1979, Bichler's case went to trial, presenting a groundbreaking argument that all manufacturers of DES bore responsibility for its effects. The jury ruled in favor of Bichler, awarding her $500,000 in damages. This case set a precedent for numerous other lawsuits and significantly influenced Shainwald's career, solidifying her role as an advocate for women's health.
Following this landmark case, Shainwald established her own practice and continued to represent women harmed by various medical products, including silicone breast implants and the Dalkon Shield contraceptive. In 1996, she won a class-action lawsuit that led to the creation of a fund for DES daughters to cover medical and counseling expenses.
Shainwald's advocacy extended beyond U.S. borders, assisting women internationally who had suffered due to defective products. She was also vocal about the dangers of Depo-Provera, a contraceptive linked to cancer in animal studies, highlighting systemic inequities in women's health care.
Born Sybil Brodkin on April 27, 1928, she graduated from James Madison High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in history from the College of William & Mary. After marrying in 1960, she pursued a master's degree at Columbia University and later attended New York Law School, receiving her law degree in 1976.
Shainwald remained involved in her legal practice until her death. She is survived by her daughter Laurie, another daughter, Louise Nasr; a son, Robert; a brother, Barry Schwartz; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Her husband, Sidney Shainwald, passed away in 2003, and her daughter Marsha Shainwald died in 2013.
In her reflections, Shainwald expressed her commitment to advocating for women's rights, stating, “I know that I have a few more years of work ahead of me, since my practice consists of suing corporate America on behalf of women.”