"Recent advances in surgical procedures have not decreased the average time for recovery from medical operations. Compared to ten years ago, the average post-operative hospital stay for patients undergoing surgery at the ten largest hospitals has actually increased by four days. Although mortality rates for operative procedures are much lower, patients are requiring more time to recover from these procedures. Clearly, the quality of operative and post-operative care is declining. The medical community should be very concerned about this grave problem.
All of the following, if true, weaken the argument above EXCEPT:
Operative and post-operative mortality rates are the most accurate indicators of quality of medical care.
Fewer than thirty percent of beds in the largest hospitals are occupied by patients recovering from surgery.
In the past ten years, innovations have allowed previously inoperable conditions to be treated successfully by major surgery.
Every year, many surgical procedures that previously required hospital stays are simplified enough that they can safely be performed in outpatient clinics.
Average surgical recovery time, measured by hospital stay plus time spent disabled from normal activities at home, has decreased by twelve percent in the last ten years."
All of the following, if true, weaken the argument above EXCEPT:
Operative and post-operative mortality rates are the most accurate indicators of quality of medical care.
Fewer than thirty percent of beds in the largest hospitals are occupied by patients recovering from surgery.
In the past ten years, innovations have allowed previously inoperable conditions to be treated successfully by major surgery.
Every year, many surgical procedures that previously required hospital stays are simplified enough that they can safely be performed in outpatient clinics.
Average surgical recovery time, measured by hospital stay plus time spent disabled from normal activities at home, has decreased by twelve percent in the last ten years."
