It's a fair point but how much money do people need? He must have ready been a multi millionaire and still on a good wedge on his four year deal. Surgery or not he was and is their main asset. It would be no release clause no deal extension from me regardless of the money. The club would then have three years before they'd start to panic as it entered the last year.
I guess it boils down to your values and what's more important in life. As horrific and sad as it was I used to think that everytime I saw some poor contractor threatened with beheading in the middle East. They knew the risks but the financial rewards were massive. Still not worth the gamble for me.