What is the minimum you would sell your dominant hand's pinky for? And the thumb?

Answer 1

Pinky? Enough to buy a prosthetic, plus $500,000. I also assume it would be removed surgically and not just lopped off?

For the thumb, I'm not sure I would sell that. I use that too often. If I did, probably not for less than $1 million.

Your question does raise the interesting issue of selling body parts. I think we can all agree that involuntary removal of parts (e.g. from prisoners) is bad, but what about from people willing to voluntarily sell some part?

Current U.S. law, IIRC, prohibits the direct payment of cash for body parts. (Beyond medical bills, etc.) But I've read studies that have shown that if we were able to offer payment for parts, we could greatly reduce or even eliminate the current shortage of donors for stuff like kidneys, or for other organs like hearts which could be donated after the original user dies.

We currently do pay plasma donors for donating, and that market has worked out pretty well. Far from "preying on the poor," the plasma market has been a great incentive to college students, retirees, and others to donate plasma while making some nice money on the side, while of course patients benefit from a greater supply. It's a win-win case.

Answer 2

What is wrong with you???