Sherri Finkbine

Sherri Finkbine (born Sherri Chessen in 1932) is an American television actress.

Finkbine was known as Miss Sherri on the local Phoenix, Arizona, version of the franchised children's show, Romper Room. The Finkbine Case began in London, England, in 1961, when her husband was chaperoning sixty-four high school students on a European tour. He obtained some Thalidomide and carried the remainder home. Finkbine took thirty-six of the pills in the early stages of her pregnancy. Neither she nor her husband was aware until July 1962 that the pills contained Thalidomide.

In 1962, Finkbine took Thalidomide while she was pregnant with her fifth child. This drug could cause deformity in the fetus(es) while in utero. Finkbine's physician recommended that she obtain a therapeutic abortion, the only type of abortion that was permitted in Arizona at the time. To publicize the danger of Thalidomide, Finkbine contacted the Arizona Republic. Although Finkbine had been assured anonymity, her identity was not kept secret.

Following the paper's publication of Finkbine's story, the hospital at which she planned to have the abortion performed, wary of the publicity, sought assurance that it would not be prosecuted. When such assurance was not forthcoming, the scheduled abortion was canceled. When Finkbine's physician asked for a court order to proceed with the abortion, Finkbine and her husband became public figures, receiving letters and phone calls in opposition to her requested abortion. A few letters included death threats, and the FBI was brought in to protect her. She also lost her job at the TV station. Finkbine’s case was dismissed by Judge Yale McFate, who found that he didn’t have the authority to make a decision on the matter.

Finkbine attempted to go to Japan to obtain the abortion, but was denied a visa by the Japanese Consul. She and her husband then flew to Sweden where she obtained a successful and legal abortion, which caused a minor controversy. The abortion panel of the Royal Swedish Medical Board granted Finkbine's request for an abortion on August 17, 1962, to safeguard her mental health. The operation was performed the following day.

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