a recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early retirement rather than face the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.

a. same
b. had elected early retirement instead of facing
c. have elected retiring early instead of facing.
d. have elected to retire early rather than facing
e. have elected to retire early rather than face

I chose b even though answer is E. Didnt these doctors choose and that was it. they decision was left in the past and it did not keep going on. So I went along to the choose eliminate c,d, and e because of "have". I dont see the need to use the "have". WHy use present perfect if it stayed in the past? I think I am making this harder than it really is and I am very close to cracking this code.

almost there!