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Coronary bypass surgery--Weaken.

Expert replies
by amysky_0205 » Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:21 pm
Of patients over 65 years old who survived coronary bypass surgery -a procedure widely prescribed for people with heart disease-only 75 percent benefited from the surgery. Thus it appears that for one in four such patients, the doctors who advised them to undergo this surgery, with its attendant risks and expense, were more interested in an opportunity to practice their skills and in their fee than in helping the patient.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument?

A.Many of the patients who receive coronary bypass surgery are less than 55 years old.

B.Possible benefits of coronary bypass surgery include both relief from troubling symptoms and prolongation of life.

C.Most of the patients in the survey decided to undergo coronary bypass surgery because they were advised that the surgery would reduce their risk of future heart attacks.

D.The patients over 65 years old who did not benefit from the coronary bypass surgery were as fully informed as those who did benefit from the surgery as to the risks of the surgery prior to undergoing it.

E.The patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery but who did not benefit from it were medically indistinguishable, prior to their surgery, from the patients who did benefit.

OA: E

can someone explain D and E? I have trouble choosing them.

thank u!
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by ktlee1981 » Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:09 pm
Right. First, let's parse the argument being made here:

"Thus it appears that for one in four such patients, the doctors who advised them to undergo this surgery, with its attendant risks and expense, were more interested in an opportunity to practice their skills and in their fee than in helping the patient."

What would have to be true for this conclusion to be true?

Well, simply put, it would mean that the doctors would have to know--at the time they gave the advice--that this patient would not benefit from the coronary bypass surgery.

Looking just at D and E:

D. This focuses on the state of mind of the patient -- they were fully informed. It says nothing about whether the doctors knew that the patients would not benefit. It is irrelevant.

E. This states that the two classes of patients (those that benefit from the surgery and those that do not) are indistinguishable prior to surgery. In other words, there is no way that the doctors can be said to be taking the opportunity to practice their skills and earn a fee. They can't tell if any particular patient will benefit or not. This is precisely on point.
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