PrepTest 137, Section 2, Question 15
Doctor: It is wrong for medical researchers to(39 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(10 more words not shown)
- AMedical researchers should(13 more words not shown)
- BIf the most(20 more words not shown)
- CMedical researchers should(18 more words not shown)
- DMedical researchers should(18 more words not shown)
- EIt is wrong(26 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Sharing research could help other researchers develop treatments sooner. I can see why the doctor worries that secrecy might leave people suffering unnecessarily.
But does that possible benefit establish an obligation to publish? A company might worry that sharing work paid for by its research budget lets competitors benefit without investing. If that reduced incentives to fund future research, disclosure could have a longer-term cost. That's a possibility to consider, not something this argument proves would happen.
There is also a more basic gap. We can often help relieve suffering—by giving someone food or water, for example. The fact that an action could help doesn't, by itself, give us a rule establishing exactly when failing to act is wrong.
What we’re looking for
The doctor needs such a rule for this situation. We're asked to support the argument with a principle, so I'd look for a duty to share research when sharing could prevent unnecessary suffering. That would connect the possible consequence with the moral judgment.
Working the answers
- A
This concerns behavior researchers know will cause suffering. The premise says withholding results may delay treatments and may produce unnecessary suffering. That possibility doesn't establish the knowledge of a definite harmful result that A requires. We need a principle that applies to the possible harm described here.
- B
To use B to reach the conclusion, we'd first need to establish that preventing suffering is the most important moral principle. We haven't been given that condition. Stating ‘if this is the top priority, then confidentiality is wrong’ doesn't establish that it actually is the top priority or settle the doctor's conclusion.
- CCorrect
This directly covers the possibility described in the argument. If sharing information could prevent some unnecessary suffering, researchers should not keep it confidential. The doctor's evidence supplies that possibility, and C supplies the moral rule connecting it to the obligation to share. It doesn't require certainty that a treatment will be delayed or a particular person will suffer.
- D
Faster treatment development is relevant, but D makes the duty subject to researchers' other moral obligations. What if confidentiality is one of those obligations? The answer doesn't resolve that conflict or establish that they must disclose their work despite their employer's wishes.
- E
This judges the company's request, while the conclusion judges the researcher's decision to keep the work confidential. Even if asking for secrecy were wrong, we'd still need a principle establishing the researcher's obligation to disclose. E addresses a different actor's conduct.
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