goodyear2013 wrote:
Some public health advocates have become concerned that directly advertising prescription drugs to consumers is likely to cause some patients to pursue certain medications that may be inappropriate for their individual health situation. However, marketing to consumers should not be limited as long as physicians also continue to be educated about such medications, because a physician's prescription is still required in order for patients to obtain these drugs.
Which of the following facts would most directly address the concern articulated by the public health advocates?
A) After a certain number of years, prescription drugs lose patent protection and other companies can then manufacture and market generic forms of the drugs.
B) Consumers can now find technical drug information on the Internet, information that previously would have been available only to physicians.
C) Physicians are also exposed to prescription drug advertisements that are directed toward consumers.
D) Physicians are not susceptible to pressure from patients in determining appropriate courses of treatment.
E) Fewer than 15% of patients are likely to remember and ask by name for specific drugs that they see advertised in magazines or on television.
I want to add a few things about this Question.
Structure of Argument: This is one of the typical ways in which GMAT provides the stimulus of CR. They start with One point of view, view of public health advocates in this question, and then go on to refute that view as the final conclusion of the argument. Therefore, the
Conclusion of the argument is - marketing to consumers should not be limited as long as physicians also continue to be educated about such medications.
Type of Question: Yes, it is difficult to categorize this question. Is it a Strengthen question or is it a Weaken question?
Looking closely, the question asks for both. They want us to
address the concern articulated by the public health advocates, which means we have to allay their concerns thereby, strengthen the argument's main conclusion. Hence in the traditional sense, this is a Strengthen Question.
Solution: A) After a certain number of years, prescription drugs lose patent protection and other companies can then manufacture and market generic forms of the drugs.
Out of Scope.B) Consumers can now find technical drug information on the Internet, information that previously would have been available only to physicians.
Does not really allays the concerns of public health advocates (PHA) . It would actually prompt them to start protesting against the availability of information online as well.C) Physicians are also exposed to prescription drug advertisements that are directed toward consumers.
We are now questioning the professional competencies of Physicians here not to mention that this is a reverse answer.D) Physicians are not susceptible to pressure from patients in determining appropriate courses of treatment.
Says that Physicians won't be pressurized even if patients know certain things about their own ailment. - CorrectE) Fewer than 15% of patients are likely to remember and ask by name for specific drugs that they see advertised in magazines or on television.
Does not allay the concern of PHA. Even if 1% patients remember and ask for a specific drug, main conclusion of argument fails.