The article "After shooting, a surge of anger: Insurance CEO's death releases 'pent-up pain,' " explored the unsympathetic reaction of many after the apparently targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson (Page A1, Dec. 7). Those reactions are symptoms of a chronically ill system of health care delivery.

The United States spends about twice the average of other wealthy countries on health care per person, yet has some of the worst outcomes (infant mortality, lifespan, chronic disease, etc.). Sadly, much of that money is siphoned off before it ever gets to the patient.

I practiced medicine for 37 years after four years of medical school and six years of post-medical school training. The trust of my patients was the greatest honor of my life. Seeing their anxiety and frustration as they attempted to negotiate the health care system was painful.