there are still US laws on the books to this effect. That children may be obligated to pay medical bills or other support, if their parents cannot make ends meet. Adult children are sometimes blindsided by this responsibility

In most (if not all) states, this responsibility is permanently and irrevocably severed if the parent abandons/disowns the child, refuses to pay child support after a divorce, etc.

Even if you later make up and re-establish a relationship with an adult child, there is no way to re-establish that obligation. It is gone forever. Being a bad parent can have consequences!