WILL HEALTH-CARE REFORM COVER THIS?

America's new health-care reform bill, signed into law today, is good news for some 32m previously uncovered people who are now covered. “We have now just enshrined…the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care,” President Obama announced earlier at the White House. (This short audio segment from The Economist offers a great round-up of what the bill means; this piece from CNN breaks the reform down into meaningful scenarios.)

Artists are thrilled, because reasonable health insurance will now be available to the self-employed. According to Artists United for Health Care, an advocacy group, passage of the reform plan "has done more for the health and well-being of the visual and performing arts and entertainment communities than any piece of legislation in the past fifty years."

But one wonders just how many musicians will have access to the astounding procedure experienced by Roger Frisch, a concert violinist, to treat his essential tremors. For his surgeons to pinpoint the exact place in the brain to plant electrodes, Frisch was asked to play the violin during the operation. (It turns out the brain lacks pain receptors, so patients can be awake during brain surgery.) Frisch's oddly cerebral recital is captured below.


 

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What interesting video

March 25, 2010 - 10:21 — Steven (not verified)

What interesting video footage of Roger Frisch undergoing his brain surgery. I had absolutely no idea that there are no pain receptors in the brain and so the patient can be awake during the operation. Pretty remarkable when you think about it. Steve

It's just as well the brain

May 13, 2010 - 09:08 — Frank (not verified)

It's just as well the brain can feel no pain. This has got to be one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen so thanks for sharing.

Frank from Health Tips.

I am surprised to note that

June 6, 2010 - 06:09 — Jharana (not verified)

I am surprised to note that these visual and performing arts and entertainment communities have not yet been covered under health insurance when we talk of compulsory universal health care schemes with medicaid facilities. But the video footage of Roger's brain surgery is equally interesting. Brain lacks pain receptors, is it true. But for a performing artist, it is possible. Thanks for the interesting post.Anxiety Cures

Didn't cover

July 21, 2010 - 18:42 — Baba Pandey (not verified)

As we can see, the health care reform didn't cover this.
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Chand started building in

July 22, 2010 - 06:07 — Visitor (not verified)

Chand started building in secret on government land, making his sculptures with recycled materials from demolition sites. His work was discovered 18 years later in 1975, when it had grown into a 12-acre area of interlinked courtyards, each handbags bags gucci filled with hundreds of pottery-covered concrete sculptures of dancers, musicians and animals. This makeshift sculpture park was in serious danger of being demolished by the authorities, but Chand managed to save it by getting public opinion on his side.

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