When prescribing a medication, doctors have to compare the positive effect of the medication against any complications it may cause, because treatment benefits must exceed treatment risks. However, when treating koliroma, most doctors should just prescribe the medicine that has the strongest positive effect.
Which of the following, if true, best supports the recommendation for doctors treating koliroma?The general rule is that doctors must compare benefits with risks. The recommendation says that, for koliroma, doctors should focus only on the medication’s positive effect.
The best support would show that the risk side is the same for all koliroma medications. Then the strongest positive effect would also give the best overall benefit-risk result.
(A) Koliroma is a very rare disease that can be detected only through special laboratory blood tests.
This is irrelevant. Rarity and detection method do not show that doctors should choose the strongest medication.
(B) Some medications against koliroma cause serious side effects that can lead to even more severe health problems.
This weakens the recommendation. If side effects differ and can be serious, doctors should not simply choose the strongest medication.
(C) Unlike many other diseases, koliroma is not likely to cause any complications if it is properly treated.
This does not compare the medications’ risks. The issue is not whether treated koliroma causes complications, but whether the medications have different risks.
(D) Detecting koliroma does not involve any medications that could cause long-term negative effects on patients’ health.
This is irrelevant. The argument is about treating koliroma, not detecting it.
(E) All medications used for koliroma have the same negative effects.
This is correct. If all koliroma medications have the same negative effects, then the risk side is equal. So doctors can choose based on the positive effect, and the medicine with the strongest positive effect is the best choice.
Answer: (E)