counterv the argument lsat

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counterv the argument lsat

by harsh_gupta123 » Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:37 am
Pamela: Physicians training for a medical specialty serve as resident staff physicians in hospitals. They work such long hours-up to 36 consecutive hours-that fatigue impairs their ability to make the best medical decisions during the final portion of their shifts.

Quincy: Thousands of physicians now practicing have been trained according to the same regimen, and records show they generally made good medical decisions during their training periods. Why should what has worked in the past be changed now?

Which one of the following, if true, is the most effective counter Pamela might make to Quincy's argument?

(A) The basic responsibilities of resident staff physicians in hospitals have not changed substantially over the past few decades.
(B) Because medical reimbursement policies now pay for less recuperation time in hospitals, patients in hospitals are, on the average, more seriously ill during their stay than in the past.
(C) It is important that emergency-room patients receive continuity of physician care, insofar as possible, over the critical period after admission, generally 24 hours.
(D) The load of work on resident physicians-in-training varies according to the medical specialty for which each is being trained.
(E) The training of physicians should include observation and recognition of the signs indicating a hospitalized patient's progress or decline over a period of at least 36 hours.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by fibbonnaci » Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:15 am
Q says- what has worked in the past should work now
The best way P can refute this is by showing that circumstances were different then than what it is now.

Lets look at options now:

(A) The basic responsibilities of resident staff physicians in hospitals have not changed substantially over the past few decades. [this infact strengthens Q's statement. Eliminated!]

(B) Because medical reimbursement policies now pay for less recuperation time in hospitals, patients in hospitals are, on the average, more seriously ill during their stay than in the past. [if the patients are more seriously ill these days then diagnosis becomes even more tiring and difficult. This option shows that the circumstances are different now than what they were initially. Correct!]

(C) It is important that emergency-room patients receive continuity of physician care, insofar as possible, over the critical period after admission, generally 24 hours. [it may be important that patients recieve 24 hrs care but why is it that physicians are feeling it soo tired now? Eliminated!]

(D) The load of work on resident physicians-in-training varies according to the medical specialty for which each is being trained. [if the work load varies, it should have varoed few decades ago too right? why does this problem arise now? Eliminated]

(E) The training of physicians should include observation and recognition of the signs indicating a hospitalized patient’s progress or decline over a period of at least 36 hours.[ does this option show any difference in circumstances over the decade? NO. So Eliminated!]

Hope this helps!