Sometimes it is advisable for a medical patient to seek a second

Question

Sometimes it is advisable for a medical patient to seek a second opinion. But this process can be awkward for both the patient and the physicians, since the patient often worries that the first physician will be alienated. In addition, for the first physician there is the issue of pride: a second opinion tacitly highlights a physician’s fallibility. And the second physician is in the position of evaluating not only a patient’s health, but also, inevitably and uncomfortably, a colleague’s work.

Which one of the following most accurately states the conclusion of the argument as a whole?

(A) Because of the awkwardness involved, it is best for patients not to seek second opinions unless it is absolutely necessary.
(B) In cases in which second opinions are necessary, the first physician often feels that his or her professional judgment is called into question.
(C) The process of obtaining a second medical opinion can be awkward for those involved.
(D) Physicians who are called upon to offer second opinions are always uncomfortable about evaluating the work of colleagues.
(E) In many cases in which medical patients seek second opinions, they are concerned about offending the first physician.

fitzpratik · Answer

Sometimes it is advisable for a medical patient to seek a second opinion.  But this process can be awkward for both the patient and the physicians , since the patient often worries that the first physician will be alienated. In addition, for the first physician there is the issue of pride: a second opinion tacitly highlights a physician’s fallibility. And the second physician is in the position of evaluating not only a patient’s health, but also, inevitably and uncomfortably, a colleague’s work.

Which one of the following most accurately states the conclusion of the argument as a whole?

(A) Because of the awkwardness involved, it is best for patients not to seek second opinions unless it is absolutely necessary.  (Wrong: out of scope) 
(B) In cases in which second opinions are necessary, the first physician often feels that his or her professional judgment is called into question.  (Wrong: The second opinion highlights first physicians mistake, not his judgement) 
(C) The process of obtaining a second medical opinion can be awkward for those involved.  (CorrectO-See the coloured portion!!!) 
(D) Physicians who are called upon to offer second opinions are always uncomfortable about evaluating the work of colleagues.  (Wrong: No mention has been made of the opinion of second physicians) 
(E) In many cases in which medical patients seek second opinions, they are concerned about offending the first physician.  (Wrong: Close, but there is a difference between alienating and offending)

TheNightKing · Answer

I picked B over C. I understand C is the best generic summary but I am not convinced. 
Well B does not give a full summary but I feel that's the core of the argument. The argument does mention it is awkward for patient too but still mentions that patients should consider taking second advise.

Thoughts?

ShreyasJavahar · Answer

The questions asks for an accurate summarisation of the whole argument. The argument explains that the process of asking for a second opinion is awkward for the first doctor, the patient and the second doctor, i.e. everybody involved in the process. Option B accounts only for the  first physician's  feelings and therefore accounts for only a third of the individuals involved.

robu1 · Answer

kindly tell why A is wrong?

auradediligodo · Answer

Pre-thinking

Identify the conclusion question

We are asked to identify the conclusion so let's break down the argument in all of its parts.

#1  : "Sometimes it is advisable for a medical patient to seek a second opinion. "  This statement is a fact that gives us some general information

#2   "But this process can be awkward for both the patient and the physicians, "  This statement represents the conclusion of the all argument as we will see from the following 
statements

#3   "since the patient often worries that the first physician will be alienated."  1st evidence used to draw the above conclusion

#4   "In addition, for the first physician there is the issue of pride: a second opinion tacitly highlights a physician’s fallibility."  2nd evidence used to draw the above conclusion

#5   "And the second physician is in the position of evaluating not only a patient’s health, but also, inevitably and uncomfortably, a colleague’s work."  3rd evidence used to draw the above conclusion

#3,#4   and   #5   are evidence because of the usage of   Since  ,   In addition   and   and

Option C   correctly re-states the conclusion

ShreyasJavahar · Answer

The question asks for a summary of the argument as a whole. Does any part of the argument state that patients must not seek out a second opinion? No, it does not. I believe what's happened is, you've interpreted the argument to mean that a second opinion must not be sought in order to prevent this whole charade of awkwardness, and while that's completely fine, you must be able to isolate what you think about an argument from what is being stated and from what is being asked. 
Again, the argument only talks about the awkwardness involved in attempting to procure a second opinion, it does not at any point state that it is wrong or must be avoided.

Kritisood · Answer

How can C be right? Its just restating what is already mentioned in the stimulus..
Also the stimulus says the process is awkward for both the patient and the physcian but answer choice C says its awkward for those involved.. people who are involved could also be a nurse, receptionist etc? isnt this a blanket answer.

GMATNinja · Answer

We are asked, "Which one of the following most accurately states the conclusion of the argument as a whole?"

The conclusion is right there in the passage: "But this process   can be awkward for both the patient and the physicians".

We aren't necessarily looking for something brand new. Instead, we are just looking for the conclusion. So if we have an answer choice that simply restates that conclusion, we've found our answer!

KaranB1 · Answer

GMATNinja  Sir

Is second physician not involved in the second opinion. If second physician is also involved in second opinion, then how do we know that second physician is also embarrassed?

GMATNinja · Answer

The passage specifically tells us why obtaining a second opinion can be awkward for BOTH physicians (the first and the second):

1) "for the first physician there is the issue of pride: a second opinion tacitly highlights a physician’s fallibility. And the second physician is in the position of evaluating not only a patient’s health, but also, inevitably and uncomfortably, a colleague’s work." - This explains why it would be awkward for the first physician.
2) "And the second physician is in the position of evaluating not only a patient’s health, but also, inevitably and uncomfortably, a colleague’s work." - And this explains why it would be awkward for the second physician. The second physician has to, uncomfortably (aka awkwardly) evaluate a colleague's work.

The process is also awkward for the patient, "since the patient often worries that the first physician will be alienated".

We are given reasons why the process can be awkward for the patient, the first physician, and the second physician. So, we can conclude that the process can be awkward for those involved.

I hope that helps!

Kritisood · Answer

Hi GMATninja thanks for the reponse. I am still a bit confused not related to this question per say but the fact that a restated premise can or cannot be a conclusion. @pghai in their post on this topic https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-new-medica ... 56520.html says that (1) Must be true - Fact test / No “new info” accepted - Correct answers (1) Paraphrasing OR (2) Combination (2) Inference - Subcategory of Must be true - Have to pass “Fact test” - Wrong answers: Only repeat premises Thus, any answer that only repeat (paraphrase) premises is WRONG. the same logic is giving us a right answer in one question and a wrong one in another. Pls do help. Im really confused as to what to follow .

KarishmaB · Answer

Hey  Kritisood ,

An option restating a premise WILL NOT be the conclusion of the argument. What you are missing here is what is a premise and what is the conclusion.

Sometimes it is advisable for a medical patient to seek a second opinion. But this process can be awkward for both the patient and the physicians, since the patient often worries that the first physician will be alienated. In addition, for the first physician there is the issue of pride: a second opinion tacitly highlights a physician’s fallibility. And the second physician is in the position of evaluating not only a patient’s health, but also, inevitably and uncomfortably, a colleague’s work.

What does the author want to say? Why did he write this argument? He is explaining how second opinion makes the patient as well as the physician uncomfortable. 
The conclusion is "But this process can be awkward for both the patient and the physicians". Notice the "since" after that which shows that premises follow.

Option (C) is the conclusion of the argument. The argument says "for both the patient and the doctor". Option (C) says "for those involved". It is just another way of putting the same thing. The argument is not about nurses and other people involved incidentally. The argument is about the patients and the doctors involved.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Sometimes it is advisable for a medical patient to seek a second

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