Sanda Schuldmann was ready to retire after spending more than 40 years performing as a pianist.
Retirement gave Schuldmann time to pursue other passions, things that allowed her to help others.
“I was looking for something to do that impacts people’s lives,” she said. “When you perform for people it touches the audience and that was always important to me to make a difference.”
She was inspired by the story of 29-year-old Brittany Maynard as she bravely fought brain cancer before choosing to end her life on her terms in late 2014 under Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act.
Schuldmann joined the Tucson chapter of Compassion and Choices, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping terminally ill patients with their end-of-life choices, including those seeking physician aid in ending their lives at their choosing.
One of their top goals locally is to convince the Arizona Legislature to pass medical-aid-in-dying laws similar to what has been passed in Oregon, Washington and California. Vermont and Montana also have aid-in-dying laws or court rulings.
The group, along with Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik, is hosting a public forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, to discuss the issue in the DuVal Auditorium at Banner-University Medical Center.
Panelist include: Dr. Alan Molk, a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona; Dr. Jim Nicolai, the associate medical director at Casa de la Luz Hospice; Dr. Peter Brown, the medical director of Carondelet Hospice & Palliative Medicine; and Kelly Davis, a freelance journalist in San Diego whose sister was one of the first patients to achieve a peaceful death through the recently-enacted California End of Life Options Act.
The event is to be moderated by Dr. Richard Carmona, the former surgeon general of the United States.
The forum is free, although those wishing to attend should RSVP by sending an email to sandaschuldmann@gmail.com
