Critical Reasoning

The death penalty involves medical doctors, who are sworn to preserve life, in the act of killing. This issue was much discussed after several states provided for execution by lethal injection. The American Medical Association, responding to this issue, declared that a doctor should not participate in an execution. But it added that a doctor may determine or certify death in any situation. The American Medical Association evaded the ethical problem. It can be argued that when doctors use their stethoscopes to indicate whether the electric chair has done its job, they are assisting the executioner.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second states a position that the argument seeks to oppose.

B. The first provides evidence that has been used to oppose the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that conclusion.

C. The first is a claim that has been used to reach the main conclusion of the argument; the second brings that conclusion into question.

D. The first is a position that the argument accepts; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

E. The first states a conclusion that the argument reaches; the second calls that conclusion into question.