I disagree. Tugging at emotions and learning something aren't mutually exclusive. As someone who lives outside of the US, I had never envisioned this scenario before. It's jarring every time, and you never really wrap your head around the horrible possibilities.

Of all the problems I'm aware of with the US healthcare system, I never thought of someone refusing life-saving treatment because their kids would have to deal with the bill. Deferring treatment, sure. But I figured if you're dead, you're dead.

The fact that they chase your relatives for the bill after you die is really disgusting and something I hadn't thought about until this article painted that picture for me, and now I'm involved in multiple discussions about it.

I would say I found it intellectually gratifying.