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Comment by qq66 | Hacker News Reader

This would most likely reduce the number of people who would screen themselves. I wouldn't undergo a possibly horrible medical procedure for $100,000, but I might do it to save someone's life and feel like a good person.

For further reading, look into social norms vs. market norms, especially the example of the Israeli day care: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=180117 (paywall)

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This can easily be solved by radio options on sign up form. Choose one from:

a)I am interested in $100,000 if I match.

b) Not in it for money but please donate $100,000 on my behalf to a charity <optional Textfield>

c)I am not in this for money. If I match, I am optimistic about your recovery so please keep the $100,000 to enjoy post recovery.

I'd be surprised if that were true; you could always refuse the money and feel like an even better person (or at least just as good). And then it would attract the people who do want/need the money on top of that.

That argument makes sense only in a fully logical environment. The whole body of research into market norms and social norms shows that people are not fully logical in such contexts.

Would it be possible for someone interested in the money to get tested and ask for money in case of a match? Although I suppose the moral pressure would be quite high if you are already tested.

I suppose it's possible to ask for every penny someone has if you're a match, since they'll obviously pay you their last dime. It's an asshole move to go after someone at their most vulnerable, though, and if it became public would likely get you justifiably ostracized from any decent community. It's also currently illegal in the US.

Of course, asking your medical costs, recuperating costs, etc. to be covered is totally reasonable.

Not asking for myself, I was just wondering in response to the comment about offering money. So people who would only do it for money could opt in.

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