PrepTest 147, Section 3, Question 18

Working the answers

• A

  The author says the strict standard makes conducting trials difficult, not that it causes physicians to violate the requirement to prescribe the best treatment. This identifies the wrong problem with the current conception.

• B

  This captures a general benefit of avoiding excessive restrictions, but leaves out the specific ethical replacement the author defends. The problem isn't the absence of a particular keyword; it's the omission of the recommendation that organizes the discussion.

• C

  The last paragraph supports this permission, but it is one feature of clinical equipoise. Stating that a physician can sometimes participate despite a preference leaves out why this standard should replace the existing one.

• D
  Correct

  This gives both the proposed change and its justification. Clinical equipoise should be adopted because theoretical equipoise unreasonably constricts comparative research. It captures the definition, criticism, and solution as one argument.

• E

  Rejecting automatic condemnation under theoretical equipoise is consistent with the proposal, but this stops short of identifying the alternative standard the author recommends. D states the affirmative conclusion rather than only a consequence of rejecting the old test.