In the hospital, relatives gathered as a family member lay gravely ill. The doctor came in looking tired and sombre.
'I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news,' he said. '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.'
The family members absorbed the news. Finally one asked, 'How much will a brain cost?'
The doctor responded, '$5,000 for a male brain; $200 for a female brain.'
The moment turned awkward.
Some of the men tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women.
Then one man, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, 'Why is the male brain so much more than a female brain?'
The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group, 'It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to price the female brains a lot lower because they've been used.'
'I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news,' he said. '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.'
The family members absorbed the news. Finally one asked, 'How much will a brain cost?'
The doctor responded, '$5,000 for a male brain; $200 for a female brain.'
The moment turned awkward.
Some of the men tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women.
Then one man, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, 'Why is the male brain so much more than a female brain?'
The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group, 'It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to price the female brains a lot lower because they've been used.'