The shocking video of the UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting has left many of us grappling with a mix of emotions—distress at witnessing such a crime and sorrow for the family mourning an unimaginable loss. For those close to the victim, this is a tragedy that will resonate forever.
The case has taken a particularly dark turn with the revelation the bullet casings found at the scene were inscribed with the words “Delay,” “Deny,” and “Depose.” These chilling details suggest this horrific act may have been linked to frustrations regarding denials and delays of medical care by the healthcare system.
Social Media’s Mixed Reaction
Surprisingly, the reaction on social media has been less sympathetic than expected. While no one condones such violence, many have used this incident to share their own grievances about denials of medical care—by UnitedHealthcare and other insurers. These stories highlight the human cost of policies and practices prioritizing profits over care.
For those of us working in California’s workers’ compensation system, the underlying emotions that might drive such desperation are not unfamiliar. We represent injured workers who often endure excruciating pain while being denied the medical care they desperately need. While we unequivocally condemn violence, it is important to understand the toll these denials take on vulnerable individuals.
The Emotional Toll of Denied Care
Throughout my 35-year legal career, I have witnessed the devastating effects of prolonged pain and systemic neglect on injured workers. The denial of care—often under the guise of “evidence-based medicine”—frequently leaves patients in limbo. Even when a company-approved doctor recommends treatment, insurers routinely deny it.
For many injured workers, these delays and denials are life-altering. Severe, unrelenting pain can lead to significant emotional and physical changes, including shifts in brain chemistry. The consequences ripple outwards, destroying marriages, friendships, and families. I’ve had clients threaten their own lives, my life, and the lives of others involved in their cases. Some, tragically, follow through with suicide.
A System Failing Everyone
The stories are harrowing. I learned of an injured worker who followed opposing counsel in their car with a loaded gun on the seat next to them with the intent to kill, only to abandon the plan due to a mundane circumstance like running out of gas. I know a workers’ compensation defense attorney who was attacked with a knife in court by an injured worker.
One case involved an individual who was denied psychological care. With the judge's intervention, the insurance company was just about to agree to provide the care when the injured worker pulled out a gun, put it to his head, and pulled the trigger—right in front of the judge and attorneys. Luckily, they survived, but at a great cost to their health.
The most common refrain I hear from my clients is, “Do they want me to die?” or “They’re just waiting for me to die, so I cost them nothing.” This isn’t hyperbole; it’s a reflection of how deeply the system’s inhumanity affects those it’s supposed to protect.
Meanwhile, workers’ compensation insurers in California are reporting profit margins not seen since the 1960s. The disparity between their record profits and the suffering of injured workers couldn’t be starker.
The Role of Lawmakers and the System
This broken system didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was created and upheld by elected officials who passed laws enabling these denials. A more cynical person might think these laws were passed in exchange for political contributions wherein the interests of the workers’ compensation insurance industry were allowed to outweigh the needs of the injured worker.
The murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is undeniably a crime, and the perpetrator must be held accountable. But focusing solely on this one act of violence misses a larger point: the system itself is complicit in perpetuating a cycle of suffering. There must be accountability for the practices and policies of workers’ compensation and health insurance companies, as well as for the lawmakers who allowed these systems to thrive.
A Call for Change
This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call. We must re-examine the healthcare and workers’ compensation systems that leave so many feeling powerless, abandoned, and in pain. Without meaningful reform, these frustrations will only continue to grow, and more tragedies may follow.
The time for debate is now. We cannot afford to delay action, deny accountability, or defend the status quo any longer. As a society, we must demand a system valuing human life over excessive corporate profits and compassion over bureaucracy.