One MD's opinion on the shooting of the UHC CEO [View all]

[Dennis Donovan]

Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA‬
‪@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
11m
1/Tragic news broke this week: Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan. As a trauma surgeon, a survivor of gun violence, and someone closely following this story, I’ve been struck not only by the incident itself but also by the polarized reactions I’ve seen online.

‪Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA‬ ‪
@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
11m
2/ The responses have revealed a troubling divide. While many expressed grief, others responded with indifference or even justification, citing grievances against the healthcare system. This anger reflects profound frustrations—but meeting violence with indifference undermines our shared humanity.

‪Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA‬ ‪
@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
11m
3/ This tragedy forces us to confront an unsettling reality: for many, corporate healthcare represents harm—denied claims, unaffordable premiums, and medical bankruptcies. These grievances are valid, but we must separate our demand for systemic accountability from our response to individual loss.

‪Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA‬ ‪
@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
11m
4/ Compassion is not absolution. Grieving a loss doesn’t absolve someone or their organization from accountability. But compassion is a radical act—a refusal to let justified anger erode our humanity. Dehumanization only perpetuates the cycles of harm we seek to dismantle.

‪Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA‬ ‪
@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
11m
5/ Brian Thompson’s death highlights two intertwined crises: gun violence and healthcare inequities. Both demand bold, systemic action. Together, we must reimagine systems that prioritize people over profit and affirm the sanctity of human life.

‪Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA‬
‪@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
11m
6/ Gun violence claims 48,000+ lives annually in the U.S. It knows no boundaries—not wealth, race, or status. Whether it’s a child, a teenager, or a CEO, every life lost diminishes us all. Violence doesn’t discriminate, and neither can our response to it.

Joe Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA
‪@josephsakran.bsky.social‬
7/ In a fractured world, compassion is not weakness. It’s the foundation for building a just society. Accountability and empathy are not mutually exclusive—they are twin pillars of meaningful change. We owe it to all victims of gun violence to embody both.
December 7, 2024 at 7:33 AM

https://bsky.app/profile/josephsakran.bsky.social/post/3lcppfph2722h