Why didn't they get the procedure done anyway? So what, they owe $50K.

Does his hospital insist on payment up front? Last time that I went, I was billed, though it was for much less money.

How "new" was the treatment? Has it proven effective prior? He had gone metastatic already.

the family briefly considered tapping their retirement savings to cover the out-of-pocket cost.

So.... they let him die to keep from dipping into their retirement savings? Am I reading this right?

I am not generally a pro-insurance company person... but 50K? Even if I had NO retirement savings, personally I'd prefer bankruptcy over death