December 19, 2024

Using comedy to fight the system

You've probably come across Will Flanary, aka Dr. Glaucomflecken, the internet's most famous physician/comedian. For more than four years, the ophthalmologist has been gently roasting medicine by playing a rotating cast of characters — the emergency physician clad in cyclist gear, the "ortho bro," the pediatrician in a unicorn headband. But he's also used his comedy to skewer the business of health care, including the confounding bureaucracies of insurance — with a special emphasis on UnitedHealthcare.

First Opinion editor Torie Bosch spoke with Flanary about punching up in comedy and the reaction to the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Fllannery said that he understands why so many have turned to dark humor at this moment. "It's not fair for us to police how people react on social media in terms of all that, all that snark, all those jokes, the lack of sympathy. I get it. Because what do you do when you feel helpless?"

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