Pennsylvania governor criticizes CEO killer: ‘Not a hero’

Web celebrated CEO’s death. The Institute for Research on Network Contagion points out that publications praising the killer or opposing Brian Thompson reached tens of millions of impressions. Of the ten posts about the case with the highest number of interactions, six expressed explicit or implicit support for the murder, or disowned the victim.

Users listed CEOs of other insurance companies. One of the most viewed and liked publications commented on the case with the question: “Are we starting now then?” Another asked the killer a question, asking if “he knew there are other CEOs.” One user even made a “wanted” list with the faces and positions of the directors of the main insurance and pharmaceutical companies in the United States.

Hatred from many users comes from refusals of treatment. Comments and posts recounted personal experiences of UnitedHealthcare customers who had requests for surgery, tests and medications denied. “According to his company, my husband’s cardiac arrest was not an emergency and we were left with $3,000 in debt,” says one user. Another published a document showing how the company denied allowing his son, with cerebral palsy, to use a wheelchair because it was not “medically necessary.”

UnitedHealthcare is the health insurer that denies the most patient claims. A survey published by Forbes and the Boston Globe shows that UnitedHealthcare denies 32% of its patients’ requests. The US national average is 16%.

What happened

Brian Thompson, 50, was in front of the Midtown Hilton where an investor conference was taking place. He was going to make a presentation at the event, but was hit shortly before 7am (9am Brasília time).