What the UHC CEO’s Killing Says About Violence Toward Healthcare Workers

• A retired healthcare executive examines what the death of UHC CEO Brian Thompson means in the context of violence against all healthcare workers.
• Last October, the America College of Surgeons reported healthcare workers experience more workplace violence than any other occupation.
• The executive says violence in healthcare is not publicized remotely to the number of times it occurs.

The Dec. 4, 2024, killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was the proverbial shot heard around the world, inciting weeks of constant news coverage. While certainly a shocking and newsworthy event, deaths among healthcare workers due to violence are not uncommon. More than 200 healthcare workers were killed in the workplace due to violence between 2016 and 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

However, I am unable to recall ever seeing these deaths, or even the number of deaths, presented on national news. At best, a quick notation on local news might have been seen where a death occurred, but certainly nothing beyond the report.  

What makes the death of one healthcare executive more newsworthy than the death of so many healthcare workers? Especially, the death of those on the frontline of healthcare?  

Violence Against Healthcare Workers

I have thought about this many times during my nursing career and have many theories but no true answer. Maybe there was an excitement about catching the perpetrator of the CEO? Perhaps it is related to violence extending into the payer section of healthcare. Please, do not think I am diminishing the death of this CEO. My deepest sympathies go out to the family. I do question the importance of the loss of one versus the loss of many. I wonder if community members across the nation recognize they are killing healthcare through attacks or killing of healthcare workers. 

Over my nursing career, I have seen nurses punched, kicked, stalked, followed to their car after working a 12-hour shift only to be attacked, and their family members threatened. The physical injuries and mental anguish created from such behavior is indescribable. Personally, I have experienced threats and threats on my family, but never a physical attack. I have been threatened with weapons, but luckily never injured. An attempted bombing once occurred at my workplace, but again, luckily no injuries. 

Last October, the America College of Surgeons reported healthcare workers experience more workplace violence than any other occupation. You read that correct, more than any other workplace — five-times more. These statistics are felt to be low due to underreporting. Nurses are leaving the bedside and who could blame us? The report shows about 73% of all violent, non-fatal encounters in the workplace occur in healthcare. 

Do Healthcare Workers Underreport Violence?

During an episode of a popular talk show I frequently watch, the host asked, “What is the most dangerous profession in the United States?” Responses included police officer, airline pilot, construction worker, etc. No one said healthcare. No one said it because, likely, no one on the show knew it.  

Violence in healthcare is not publicized remotely to the number of times it occurs. A report in the Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association discusses how healthcare attacks (and even deaths) are severely under reported. 

Do we, nurses, continue to underreport incidences, or do we need to begin raising our voices?  

How do we educate public and help them understand they (community members) are killing us (healthcare workers) both physically and mentally? If we don’t do something, we could see such a low volume of workers that healthcare becomes nearly impossible to receive. 

The Bottom Line

As a now–retired nurse, I hope for a better future for our new nurses and those who remain in the field of healthcare. Healthcare workers and the public must support and encourage reporting of violent incidences. Reporting in public forums must occur. I believe that if it is not talked about, it is seen as not important. 

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