Editorial: Heath Care: Change Yes, Murder No
By • January 14, 2025 0 10
On Dec. 4, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death in cold blood outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Even before the arrest of his self-confessed assassin, five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the horrifying act was being publicly celebrated.
That 26-year-old Luigi Mangione is being feted by some is disgusting. However, as he no doubt intended, this high-profile killing raised an important question: Just how bad is our country’s health care system that people are saluting a murderer?
America spends more per person on health care than any comparably wealthy country — nearly twice as much as the average expenditure. According to the Associated Press, insurance premiums, pharmaceutical prices and out-of-pocket costs in the U.S. have all risen over the last five years. While these are a few of the reasons to demand change, they do not justify the brutal killing of anyone, CEO or not.
There are far more productive — and legal — means of expressing one’s dissatisfaction with the health care industry. Write your member of Congress. Write an opinion piece and send it to your local paper. (The Georgetowner always welcomes submissions.) Consider supporting organizations such as the National Coalition on Health Care.
As for one’s own health care expenses, there is no substitute for being well informed. Do your research and talk to health professionals about your options. A good place to start is the District Department of Health website at dchealth.dc.gov.
