Woman Awarded $5M After 'Unnecessary' Hysterectomy

What's a uterus worth if it's valued as a reproductive organ?

Verdict: $5 million dollars.

What's a uterus worth if it's valued as a hormone responsive sex organ that supports the bladder and bowel, and provides cardiovascular protection?

Verdict: $0.

A decade after 31 years old Sharon Virginelli was unnecessarily hysterectomized, she was awarded $5 million Wednesday by a Cook County jury against the doctor who performed an unnecessary hysterectomy after the delivery of Virginelli's first child.

Kudos to Sharon Virginelli and her lawyer, Keith Hebeisen of Clifford Law Offices, for waging this courageous court battle, where it is rare for unnecessary hysterectomy lawsuits to be brought, and even more rare for them to be won.

A Cook County jury deliberated for about four hours before reaching its verdict following a one-week trial in Cook County Circuit Court.

Sharon Virginelli, underwent a C-section in May 1999 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Her obstetrician, Dr. Pamela Lui, performed the surgery and determined a hysterectomy was necessary due to post-operative bleeding.

Experts testified that her bleeding was slowing down and that less drastic surgical techniques could have been performed to avoid the hysterectomy.

Press releases and articles have focused on the fact that she is now unable to have children. Unfortunately the many other critically important, life long functions of the uterus as a hormone responsive sex organ that provides structural support and cardiovascular protection, appear to have been ignored.

Unquestionably, this is a legal victory. But as all hysterectomized women know only too well, no amount of money can compensate for the loss of their health, sex, sexuality, and vitality.