(Photograph by Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures)
One of many largest actual life authorized dramas of the yr got here on the finish of 2024. Particularly, the homicide of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The information triggered public complaints in regards to the firm and the healthcare system generally. Folks complained about claims and procedures being denied, the rising value of insurance coverage premiums, extreme government compensation, and medical debt that worn out financial savings and even led to chapter.
A suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, has been caught and has been charged with homicide and varied different crimes in each state and federal courts. He has been dwelling with again ache even after present process surgical procedure. His motive may very well be his private frustration along with his medical health insurance firm. However he might have accomplished it within the hopes that it’s going to carry adjustments.
Some take into account him a hero for doing what they couldn’t do. On the web, there are alibi memes, individuals on social media declaring “I condemn homicide however….” after which explaining or justifying his motion. There’s even artwork and merchandise depicting Mangione, though somebody has been aggressively utilizing DMCA to take them down.
Due to Mangione’s sudden recognition, some have speculated that even when the proof factors to his guilt past an inexpensive doubt, a sympathetic jury may nonetheless let him stroll. This is named jury nullification.
When this case goes to trial, each side will most likely speak about United Healthcare’s enterprise practices and probably the medical health insurance enterprise generally, which may get very sophisticated.
Whereas insurance coverage executives and medical administrators most likely don’t maliciously deny claims and let individuals die solely for revenue, they’ve a finite amount of cash and they also can not give everybody what they need. This implies they need to make “trolley downside” selections on a large scale.
The well being care trade will not be good and sadly many individuals is not going to get the care they assume is finest. However does this broad downside justify one individual killing another person? It’s doable that he may have instigated change by way of nonlethal means.
Regardless of the prosecutor’s technique is, they must reduce the probabilities of jury nullification or a hung jury. Whereas individuals are understandably upset at medical health insurance firms like UnitedHealthcare for varied causes, letting a killer stroll as a result of they hate the system most likely received’t carry the change they need.
As an alternative, it might make issues worse. Good individuals with stable enterprise ethics are much less prone to take medical health insurance government positions. Those that do will need exponentially increased pay to stay in gated communities along with full-time safety. If one firm provides these perks, different insurance coverage firms will take the identical steps to guard their executives. The place will that cash come from to cowl these prices? Greater insurance coverage premiums.
Lastly, if the killer did what he did as a type of protest, then he should be prepared to simply accept the implications of his actions.
Brian Thompson’s tragic homicide was dedicated by somebody with extreme private points. However some individuals see it as the one approach to impact actual change to a enterprise mannequin that cares extra about earnings on the expense of its clients. However now, there isn’t an ideal mannequin of well being look after the plenty. If there was, then each nation would comply with it. Till that good mannequin is discovered, insurance coverage firms must be extra aware of their clients’ grievances. And those that kill must be held accountable.
Steven Chung is a tax lawyer in Los Angeles, California. He helps individuals with fundamental tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He’s additionally sympathetic to individuals with giant scholar loans. He will be reached by way of e-mail at [email protected]. Or you possibly can join with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and join with him on LinkedIn.
