To the editor:

There can be no justifying the murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson. Reports are that bullet casings left by the murderer were inscribed with words such as “delay” and “deny.” The New York Times speculates these may be “references to ways that health insurance companies seek to avoid paying patients’ claims,” going on to report that “UnitedHealthcare has come under fierce criticism from patients, lawmakers and others for its denials of claims,” particularly denying medical care at high rates for the poor.

Few of us have not been angered, even enraged, suffering abuse at the hands of corporate power. Causes may mostly be minor, like the cable company not acting like it cares when your service isn’t working. But other causes are more serious, even life altering, like when health care is denied. They do it, of course, because they can, and we get angry because we know there’s really nothing we can do to stop them.

The purpose of our civil justice system is to provide remedies for wrongs. The idea is that if an insurance company withholds coverage, we have courts to turn to. But if average citizens think they have no real chance against corporate giants, should we be surprised when they turn to violence?

Obviously, I cannot know what may have caused someone to commit this crime. Nor can I know whether UnitedHealthcare was guilty of some injustice. But I can observe that this murder raises questions we must ask about whether our civil justice system gives people an adequate alternative to violence.

William Skepnek,

Lawrence