LSAT 105 | Section 1 | Logical Reasoning: Q10

LR Question 10 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The consequences of surgical errors can be devastating …

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Surgery performed by anyone but a general surgeon involves highly undesirable risks.

REASONING:

1. Surgical errors can be devastating.
2. People want surgery to be performed by someone highly competent.
3. General surgeons have special training and expertise that make them extremely competent.

ANALYSIS: Why can other surgeons not be highly competent? Surely neurosurgeons, cardiac surgeon or any other surgeon also have special training and expertise that make them highly competent.

The conclusion is too extreme and fails to consider that other doctors might also be competent to perform surgery.

___________

1. Sure. But this is about whether or not general surgeons are the only ones competent enough to perform surgery.
2. CORRECT. See discussion above.
3. The argument never said that competence guarantees a successful outcome. It only said that surgeons other than general surgeons bring highly undesirable risks.
4. Obviously. Usually the main factor in deciding whether to have a surgery is how bad you need it. But that has no effect on who is competent to perform surgery.
5. The flaw isn’t about choosing a doctor, it’s about falsely assuming only general surgeons are competent enough to perform surgery.