大象传媒

CEO鈥檚 Killing Sparks Discourse on Broken Health Care System


of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after a days-long manhunt. in the back on his way to his company鈥檚 annual investor conference in Manhattan. He died instantly.聽

In a bizarre turn of events, the shooting unleashed a torrent of online vitriol at the health insurance industry and sparked discussions about how for-profit companies have been using artificial intelligence to deny claims. 

One explained it this way: 鈥淔ollowing the shooting death of Brian Thompson, a fandom emerged around his suspected killer that seemed unifying in a way few others have been. He became an avatar that anyone who鈥檇 ever struggled with a hospital bill could understand.鈥

The suspect, , is an Ivy League鈥揺ducated man from a wealthy Baltimore family who had struggled with debilitating back pain. Speculation abounds as to his motivations and political ideology, and the to his fandom has already begun.聽

Dr. Paul Song, a board-certified radiation oncologist, is chairperson and chief executive officer at NKGen Biotech. He is a longtime advocate for single-payer health care and left medicine in part over his growing frustration with the health insurance system. Song spoke with 大象传媒 Senior Editor Sonali Kolhatkar on 大象传媒 Presents: Rising Up With Sonali about justifiable public outrage at the industry.