THE PRICE OF A BRAIN
>> >
>> >
>> > Relatives gathered in the waiting room of a hospital as their
>>family
>> > member
>> > lay gravely ill.
>> >
>> >
>> > Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber.
>> >
>> >
>> > "I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed
>>the
>> > worried
>> > faces
>> >
>> >
>> > "The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain
>> > transplant.
>> > It's an experimental procedure, very risky but it is the only
>>hope.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay
>>for the
>> > brain
>> > yourselves."
>> >
>> >
>> > The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a
>>great
>> > length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain
>>cost?"
>> >
>> >
>> > The doctor quickly responded, "$5,000 for a male brain, and $200
>>for a
>> > female brain."
>> >
>> >
>> > The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile,
>>avoiding
>> > eye
>> > contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A man, unable
>>to
>> > control
>> > his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask,
>> >
>> >
>> > "Why is the male brain so much more?"
>> >
>> >
>> > The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the
>>entire
>> > group,
>> >
>> >
>> > "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the
>>price of
>> > the female brains, because they've actually been used."