Leading medical subreddit deletes thread about UnitedHealthcare CEO’s murder after users criticize his record

One of Reddit’s leading medical communities has removed a thread about the assassination of UnitedHealthcare (UHC) CEO Brian Thompson after commenters overwhelmingly criticized and satirized the insurer’s alleged denial of coverage to sick and dying Americans skim off profits.

The moderators of r/medicine closed the thread, which was posted yesterday following news that Thompson was shot outside the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, after receiving over 500 replies.

The top comment, which received hundreds of supportive upvotes from other users, mocked UHC’s infamous track record of refusing to pay out insurance claims and is written as a long, fake rejection letter from the company.

Addressed to an unnamed applicant – after “careful consideration of the application submitted to the emergency services on December 4, 2024” – he is told that coverage is being rejected because “you did not obtain prior authorization before seeking care “Your chest.”

“If you would like to appeal the fatal shooting, please call 1-800-555-1234 with case number 123456789P to begin a peer-to-peer process within 48 hours of the fatal shooting,” another wrote User.

Another paraphrased early 20th-century union lawyer Clarence Darrow: “I have never wished death on a man, but I have read some of the obituaries with great pleasure.”

Dozens and dozens expressed similar sentiments.

The subreddit’s moderators told the Daily Beast in a message that they removed the post “because it was unproductive, a waste of mods’ time, without a good source, for manipulation, arguably violating Reddit’s (Terms of Service) and ( presented) too many inappropriate comments.”

The site’s communities are moderated by teams of volunteers.

“It was not due to criticism of business practices,” the statement continued. “We often criticize the business practices of insurance companies here.”

Under Thompson’s leadership, UHC faced intense criticism for being one of America’s most ruthless for-profit health care companies.

According to a study by ValuePenguin, citing in-network claims data, it is “the worst insurance company at paying claims, with about a third of claims being denied.”

In September, a Senate report condemned UHC and two other major insurers, Humana and CVS, for allegedly denying patients access to post-acute care to boost their profits.

UHC is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, the country’s largest health care group, which had revenue of $371 billion last year, while Thompson’s compensation was $10 million.

Police have not yet attributed a motive to the masked killer who shot Thompson outside an investor meeting in what NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said was likely a “premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”

Law enforcement officials found the words “deny,” “defend” and “deposition” on shell casings recovered from the crime scene and are reportedly examining whether they can be linked to a motive involving insurance companies.

Meanwhile, criticism of Thompson on Reddit has not subsided. About 16 hours after the deleted post was published on r/medicine, another user made a separate post encouraging thought about the murder. It stayed up.

As in the previous thread, some comments contain humor or outrage about UHC.

But others – including many doctors and medical professionals – also criticized Thompson’s business practices sharply and unsparingly.

A doctor whose identity was confirmed by the Daily Beast expressed sympathy for Thompson’s family and said the killer should be charged with murder, but then marveled at the damage the CEO had caused.

“I cannot even guess how many person-years UHC has cost patients and their families through denials,” they wrote. “It has to be in the order of millions. His death will not improve the situation, but I find it difficult to feel compassion when so many people have suffered at the hands of his company.”

“What concerns me most are people who put ‘fiduciary responsibility’ (e.g. profits) above human lives, and none more so than this company he runs,” wrote another doctor who also spoke to the Daily Beast. to confirm this Identity “If the human life of others is viewed as worthless, it is not surprising that others view your life as worthless as well.”