this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2024
1359 points (99.3% liked)

News

23627 readers
2156 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. We have an actively updated blocklist, which you can see here: https://lemmy.world/post/2246130 if you feel like any website is missing, contact the mods. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

Reddit’s r/medicine moderators deleted a thread where doctors and users harshly criticized murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Comments, including satirical rejections of insurance claims for gunshot wounds, targeted UHC’s reputation for denying care to boost profits.

Despite the removal, similar discussions continue, with medical professionals condemning UHC’s business practices under Thompson’s leadership, which a Senate report recently criticized for denying post-acute care.

Thompson, shot in what appears to be a targeted attack, led a company notorious for its high claim denial rates, fueling ongoing debates about corporate ethics in healthcare.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 56 points 2 weeks ago (11 children)

Death is always tragic.... I don't care if the guy is a billionaire or not, he or she had family.

I would however agree that having such wealth is clearly perverse and clearly done at the expense of others. You don't get that rich by being kind hearted and generous....

In any case, if you become CEO of a business that has sloppy morals and essentially encourage parasitic behavior.... Don't expect to be loved... Or surprised that you may get shot....

It's like being the CEO of Blackwater.... No one that has clean hands takes that position....

No one becomes a CEO by accident, it was a choice and ambition to become that level of scum...

Now imagine if companies could only give a maximum of around 2000$

I wonder how that would change the landscape of American politics

[–] [email protected] 51 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I feel actions of CEOs and execs undo any empathy they deserve. Hitler had a wife he was loyal to, he was vegetarian as he was sympathetic towards animals and apparently was generous to those around him, but he DOES NOT deserve any empathy.

The damage they caused warrants them zero sympathy. Millions of Americans die due to lack of coverage.

Just my personal take.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

The one big difference I can think of is that Hitler's death did something. This guy here, he's a CEO. Was it morally acceptable for him to die? Sure, he caused thousands and thousands of deaths by his company leadership, after all. I'd prefer something else, but I won't miss him, either.. But sadly it only frees up a marginal portion of their wealth, and that wealth just goes to other rich assholes.

To take down the corrupt part, you have to get rid of the shareholders and moneygivers, which sadly are quite a few.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Apparently it already has gotten another insurance company that had just announced a ghoulish coverage policy for anesthesia to reverse course.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Because they realise that they dont really have any power and people might be starting to see that again. The bubble might finally be bursting.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago

God I’ve been edged so hard for so long it’s about fucking time

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

Silver linings

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No, terrorism has a bad reputation because of media, but if these people were scared for their lives to do what they're doing then some of them would chose to not do it. It sucks that anyone ever feels the need to resort to terrorism, but it has historically worked a number of times to accomplish good things. It is an evil tool, as all violence is, but, as all tools, it does have a utility.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Well....

If people knew they would be prosecuted and have their legacy tarnished and end up in jail they would think twice... These elites care about their legacy and image.

When there is a lack of accountability and watchdogs that actually hold power...

Imagine if insurance companies were made to pay up 300 millions in penalties but the reality is these people get away with it by getting a good lawyer and accountant.... This is where I get the the desire to shoot them...

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago

You don't know the consequences of this CEO's murder. Only a short time has passed. It may inspire a string of murders targeting unethical leaders scaring people from taking those positions and making unethical decisions or, perhaps, an entire revolution. Maybe it inspires nothing. It has definitely lead to some additional conversations, and I think that is a good start.

Murder is wrong. Punishment without trial is wrong. Denying critical benefits and putting people into crippling debt in search of profits is wrong. Someone did one wrong thing to stop other wrong things. We'll see where it leads.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

eh, a CEOs family has made their peace with the blood money. like most of us would never even consider marrying someone who is blatantly responsible for thousands of not millions if deaths. so I cant feel sympathy for a partner. I could feel sympathy for young kids, but the guy was 50, so it's fair to assume any kids are at least 18, at which age you either cut contact with a parasite like that or become similar. I guess I just have a hard time feeling sympathy for people who are set for life off of the suffering of others and have never spoken up, attempted to change anything, or just left

edit: typos

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

It's okay to feel two things. I feel bad that something tragic happened, but also good that it couldn't have happened to a worse person. I don't know anything about his kids and I don't want to. I hope his kids leave the spotlight and have a happy, peaceful life. Of course if they choose to follow in their fathers footsteps deals off, but if they just choose to live quiet, small lives like the rest of us they should be given peace.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 weeks ago

Social contract is broken. We're back to kings and peasants.

More heads will roll and I say good ridence!

Someone being invaded in Ukraine or someone in Gaza being bombed, I feel for them, they did nothing to deserve this. But people like him? Bottom on my care list.

Criminals on death row likely had more soul than those taking advantage of millions. French got it figured out... We should be more like French.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It can both be sad for his family in a way that everyone can recognise, and also not sad in the slightest, at the same time.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

Fuck his family too if they cared about this parasite. He's responsible for thousands of other families losing their loved ones.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Fuck his family. They lived lavish lives off our suffering. No sympathy.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ah yes, sins of the father. Traditionally the best way to carry on grudges for hundreds of years.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

And I didn’t choose to be born to a disabled father and left with a lifetime of trauma due to the health insurance companies. Fuck his family. Zero sympathy. I hope his kids and wife suffer the same way my mother and I have. They won’t. We lost the house. They’ve got millions. FUCK THEM.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Sounds like you've got the generational grudge part down, at least.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Idk, it's not like his kids had a choice where they were born (assuming they're young, I have no idea)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago

And I didn’t choose to be born to a disabled father and left with a lifetime of trauma due to the health insurance companies. Fuck his family. Zero sympathy. I hope his kids and wife suffer the same way my mother and I have. They won’t. We lost the house. They’ve got millions. FUCK THEM.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Pretty much my feelings. I won't celebrate violence and death, but I'm not gonna pretend that the world isn't a LOT better off without him. Or that there's some really funny takes floating around out there.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

I agree, he was not a positive contribution to our world. But I cannot condone killing as it doesn't improve the system. These people just get replaced, there is a reason they are in power it's because they have contingencies...

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No one that has clean hands takes that position…

The same could be said of every billionaire.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You're right, he did have a family. And when you think about it, his family also benefited from him killing thousands of people. Hmm...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I would also think that Americans should take a hard look at themselves as a lot of where you are is based on decisions that have been taken in the name of freedom.

I was told that in Colorado that its incredible that my wife had 12 months of paid leave and our insurance covers most of our cost (Québec Canada) and my view is that most Canadians accept to pay a higher tax to get a service in return. There is an acceptance that your neighbor should be as successful as you and even more as it benefits the society that you live in.

On the flip side you can have a self centered culture in which no one looks out for anyone else and only make sure their tummy is well rubbed. If to you freedom is had by not paying taxes well then, your doing big corporations a favor....

I understand that there are portions of politics you cannot influence but the United States of America has an incredibly strong constitution and political institution that was made for the people. You have so many rights that other countries simy do not have. Instead of dividing yourselves, you should be uniting yourself, Rep and Dem for common causes that you can agree with.

Everyone wants a cheaper health care and want their kids to have the same opportunities. You just need to ignore the extremist on both sides who are still the minorities. We just hear them because they hold the media's attention instead of the average American.

It is for you, as American to use those tools that hVe been given to you and unite and fight the mainstream media to stop showing false narrative from both sides of the spectrum. Start meeting your political representatives and let them know that you are watching and following them and will hold them accountable. Things will. Never change if you do not fight with all five of your fingers to make a fist....

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Why is his death tragic? Is Hitler's death tragic? If not where is your line?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I lost my twin brother to cancer almost 15 years ago, it still hurts to speak about it today.

Even after having two children, that pain that I have in my heart will never heal and that glimmer in my parents eyes can never fully be alight as it once was. They love my children and are fully motivated by them but the pain never goes away.

As a Canadian citizen, everything was done so that we didn't have to pay for it, his chemo was covered at 95% and so we were blessed. I wish I could have a target to say my brother died because of this person or something tangible I could strangle or yell at but the reality is, it doesn't make each morning any easier to wake up in a world without my twin brother.

All those jokes we shared for years are now gone and only remembered by those that are close to me but never fully understood. He alone knew me better than anyone else and cancer robbed me of that. Such is the tragedy of death, we may scream victory one day but with time, we lose the enemy that we hated and only have ourselves to speak to as that person we hated is now gone.

That is why death is tragic, it is irreversible

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Your twin brother was Hitler?

I don't really have an interest in your personal loss, sorry -- I don't know you other than a few characters on a screen. But you made an assertion that we should care about the death of Hitler and I want to hear it. Is it because Hitler's friends and family will miss him?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I did not make such allusion but thank you for making such a cheap conclusion....

I hope you never lose anyone in your family, I certainly wouldnt trivialize your pain but then again.... Not surprised

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I also had a father. Only mine was taken from me by this healthcare system. Fuck this guy. Fuck his family. Their lavish lifestyle is fueled by denying people like my father care. Fuck them and anyone who licks their boots.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Fair enough, there isn't much more to add to what you said.... It's a disgusting system.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

I don't care about his family because his family expects my family to serve them.

Fuck that.