Recovery

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Recovery

by imskpwr » Thu May 30, 2013 5:59 am
"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."
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by artor » Thu May 30, 2013 8:02 am
I am not sure but I choose "B".

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by mike34 » Thu May 30, 2013 8:26 am
Picked D

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by krishnapavan » Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:07 am
IMO B

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by fulltapori » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:24 am
Picked B

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by magpie16 » Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:44 am
Here the argument has the conclusion "the quality of operative and post-operative care is declining" driven from the premise "average post-operative hospital stay for patients has increased in last 10 years".

To weaken this conclusion, there can be several statements opposing the premises or conclusion such as
- post operative stay in not determinant factor for quality of operative and post-operative care
- there are improvement in the surgical processes
- decrease in total rest time after the surgery

A) Operative and post-operative mortality rates are the most accurate indicators of quality of medical care.
This statement is weakening the conclusion as it is showing an improvement in the determinant factor and thus indicating improvement in the quality of operative and post-operative care.

B) Fewer than thirty percent of beds in the largest hospitals are occupied by patients recovering from surgery.
This statement does not provide any information on period of stay after surgery and this does not seem to weaken the conclusion or attack the premises. Hold it.

C) In the past ten years, innovations have allowed previously inoperable conditions to be treated successfully by major surgery.
As previously inoperable conditions can be treated successfully now, this statement is evidently indicating improvement in surgical processes and thus weakening the conclusion.

D) Every year, many surgical procedures that previously required hospital stays are simplified enough that they can safely be performed in outpatient clinics.
As many surgical processes can be performed without hospitalization, this statement is clearly indicating improvement in surgical processes and decrease in post-operative hospital stay and thus weakening the conclusion.

E) 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.
This statement is invalidating the premise by saying that total rest time after surgery is decreased and thus the statement is weakening the conclusion.

Here options A, C, D, and E are weakening the conclusion and option B is not doing so. Option B is the correct answer.

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by faraz_jeddah » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:32 am
What is the OA?

I think A does not weaken the conclusion.