Chuck Schuldiner, A Life Taken In Vain
Today marks the 8th anniversary of the death of the “Father of Death Metal,” Chuck Schuldiner. Chuck Schuldiner wasn’t just an originator of death metal, he was an innovator. He was an artist who just happened to hone his craft through heavy metal. He was a blessing for the metal world, and his legacy will be felt as long as their is extreme music. However, I have to use this moment of remembrance to express my personal view about an issue that could have very well saved Chuck’s life and allowed him to continue to be a mover and shaker of the highest degree, and that issue is healthcare in this country.
I made this blog to express my personal views on metal, and will continue to do so, but I cannot in good conscience ignore a major problem in America today, that effects EVERYONE. You see, what many people don’t realize is that Chuck’s brain tumor, when originally discovered was removed at great personal expense to his family. The metal community chipped in with benefit concerts and such to help alleviate the financial burdens on Chuck and his family, however, in 2001, his cancer had returned. Based on what I have read, doctors concluded that for best results, Chuck needed to have surgery immediately in order to remove this new tumor, but due to a lack of funding, and the rejection of his current insurance policy based on his pre-existing condition (Chuck was not insured prior to his initial bout), this surgery did not immediately take place. The celebrity rock community took notice of Chuck’s predicament, including Kid Rock, Slipknot, Rob Halford, Spineshank, KoRn, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and other notable figures in hard rock at the time, and decided to auction off items online to help alleviate the costs of treatment, as surgery would not be possible now as his tumor was now causing too much pressure on his brain to allow an operation. However, if this new treatment could alleviate the pressure from the tumor, surgery might then be possible.
Despite the efforts of Chuck’s friends, family, the metal community, and even celebrities and MTV, Chuck passed away. It seems clear to me, that had doctors been able to act forthrightly to eliminate this new tumor, Chuck may have still been with us today. Now, obviously when dealing with something as complex as a tumor in one’s brain, anything can happen, even in post-surgery, but having never had that opportunity, Chuck’s death, to me, was in vain, and could have been potentially evaded.
I am a fan of having a public health care option in his country of ours, and Chuck’s death is a perfect example of how our healthcare system has failed so many people. Europe and Canada have set clear examples of how socialized healthcare CAN work. Having only private healthcare as an option is a disgrace, and a total disadvantage to common people. I work in the medical billing field, and hear from people almost every single day the struggles they must endure to juggle treatment and payment. Worrying about whether or not you can treat illnesses to you and your famiyl should NOT be a concern for Americans, or anyone else. Those who oppose a public option will claim it is the American way to find prosperity and earn your healthcare. Well, Chuck prospered, but because he wasn’t in a financially sound industry, he suffered. Chuck essentially died for his art, he died doing what he wanted to do in life, and he got fucked over.
I’m sorry for using Chuck’s legacy for this soapbox moment, but we all have to draw the line in the sand somewhere, and this is one of those moments for me. R.I.P. Chuck, I’ll always continue listening to your music and remember your mark.
A quote from the below MTV article:
“There is something terribly wrong when a country as great as America will let their citizens die for lack of insurance or money,” Schuldiner’s family said in a statement. “[We are] aware every time [he needs treatment] that if we do not get the money, he will die.”
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1444243/20010604/death.jhtml
CODY
Health care in Canada is far from perfect, but at least, every single person here can get medical assistance FOR FREE when needed, no matter if they’re poor or rich. I guess the only people opposed to a public system in the United States are the ones that can afford a private insurance…
Legion – Thanks for the comment, and you are indeed correct. Those that can afford a decent plan are covered for most things, especially catastrophic illnesses. However, if you require preventative care in this country, and have access to little to no insurance, you are fucked, simply put.
Sorry, but health care in Canada isn’t free. I’m sure the doctors and the nurses are payed, and the equipment comes from somewhere. That’s right, taxes.
And if you think socialized health care is somehow more efficient, i’ve got a bridge i’d like to sell you. I live in a country with socialized health care, and people wait for YEARS for routine surgeries.
And which country would that be?
iolanach,
Of course it is not free, what I meant is that even if you make no money at all and don’t pay taxes, you will get health care, so for me, that means free. And I never said that the public system was more efficient than the private ones, don’t know where you got that, I just pointed out the fact that with the public system, ANYONE can get treatment, no matter if they are poor or rich. Of course it has its flaws but that’s the price to pay to have free health care.
If you’re not happy with the wait, I’m sure you have the possibility, as I have here, to go to a private clinic and pay to get you treated as quickly as you want.
a healthcare argument? cmon.
Great post.
My mother in law recently passed away. She went from being comfortably well off to being practically destitute, all in the space of about a year. She had emphysema, and the insurance company dropped her for having emphysema. Go figure. Here in Canada, no-one loses their home because they need surgery. You may have to wait for ROUTINE surgery, but major health issues are generally handled pretty promptly, and you are treated for what you NEED, not what your insurance company is willing to pay for.
Magpie – thanks for the comment, especially about routine vs specialized services. If you had a condition such as Chuck’s where surgery was absolutely essential for the preservation of life, I doubt there are any first world nations with socialized healthcare that would make that person wait.
Hello, I am Chuck’s sister, Beth Schuldiner. Thank you for your eloquent summary of my brother and his battle. The health care system in our great country is indeed broken. Let me say though, that even one of the Beatles, GeorgeHarrison, with his mass fortune, died of a brain tumor as well. I still have the painful sting of selling everything we owned and working 24/7 to come up with the $3,000 per month in just for the prescriptions. I found out that I could by the same manufacturer, same drug in Mexico for 1/10 of the cost, but it would have been illegal for us to do so and the last thing we needed was an arrest to add to the horrible mix. All of the wonderful bands who contributed were selfless; a shame that the “founder” of that benefit took the lion’s share. At the time, we kept this to ourselves, as we did not want the musicians who donated to feel they had not helped; the intent was there, the selfless acts of these great people could not to be robbed by the thief.
I do believe in Socialized medicine. I cringe each & every day over the pain & suffering families across the USA are going through because of the almighty dollar or lack thereof; NO CONSCIENCE! Our country is a “toddler”, only 224 years old. We would be wise to consult with first world countries and come up with a plan that would benefit all across the board; INCLUDING our Politicians; the very same (refer to Constitutional Amendment 28).
Again,I thank you for your tribute and reminder of Chuck and the much needed “do over”, not overhaul, of our health care in the United States of America.
With Kindest regards,
Beth Schuldiner
Beth – Thanks so much for your comments, its an honor to have you bring a personal perspective to my story from someone who knew Chuck very well. Politics and music don’t always mesh, but in this case, its essential that my readers understand the circumstances behind the death of one of metal’s greatest legends.
Yeah theres like a zillion bands that wouldn’t exist if it wasnt for Death… Cynic, Necrophagist, BTBAM, the list goes on..
Love Chuck, don’t support socialized health care. Isn’t it sort of dramatic to suggest a complete health care overhaul when the only reason that Chuck died was because he couldn’t get insured due to a pre-existing condition? Doesn’t making sure health insurance providers can’t refuse coverage to those with pre-existing conditions solve that? Obviously health care needs tweaks to the system. I support an increase in Medi-Caid coverage, but I could never support a complete and total public health care system.
Anyway, I only recently found the site when looking for a review of the new Heathen record. Great stuff so far, it’s now on the bookmark toolbar next to MetalSucks. Keep up the metal, but tone down the politics.