A Study Released by a Major Medical Center has Found that People who Experience a Stroke are Frequently Not Treated Quickly

Question:
A study released by a major medical center has found that people who experience a stroke are frequently not treated quickly enough to prevent major complications, such as brain damage and paralysis. Stroke symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack but may pass more quickly, leading victims to believe that there is no need to seek the timely medical treatment required to avoid major long-term complications. As a result of the study, the medical center has implemented a program requiring doctors to review certain educational materials, which explain that stroke victims must immediately seek adequate medical attention when they experience stroke symptoms, with all patients who have risk factors for a stroke. The goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of major complications after a stroke among patients who have risk factors for a stroke.

Which of the following, if true, would most significantly limit the extent to which the program meets its goal?

(A) Most first-time stroke victims have not been previously diagnosed as having risk factors for a stroke.
(B) Stroke symptoms, while readily identifiable by those around stroke victims, are rarely perceived by the stroke victims themselves.
(C) Some stroke victims who seek immediate medical attention after a stroke can still experience major complications.
(D) All of the information contained in the educational materials has already been readily available on the internet for several years.
(E) Because many stroke victims have difficulty moving during and after a stroke, the medical center also provides patients who have risk factors for a stroke with wearable devices that can be used to summon emergency assistance at the push of a button.

“A study released by a major medical center has found that people who experience a stroke are frequently not treated quickly” – is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘ Manhattan prep GMAT Critical Reasoning 6th Edition’. In this particular topic, candidates are asked to select the option that makes the same error as the author. In this question, the candidates need to provide an option that supports the error provided in the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. Critical reasoning in GMAT requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: B
Explanation:

Option A: Incorrect.

Statement (A) states that it does not aim at first-time stroke victims. Victims who did not have risk factors before their first stroke. This program aspires at patients who have risk factors for a stroke. So, option (A) has a limited extent. Hence the goal of the program cannot be met.

Option B: Correct.

Statement (B) states about educational materials. These are designed to encourage stroke victims to pursue adequate medical attention whenever they encounter any symptoms of a stroke. We can also see that the victims are not enlightened about the symptoms. So, without awareness of stroke symptoms, they would not be able to act on this advice. This puts a limitation on the extent of the program to meet its goal. Hence option (B) can be considered.

Option C: Incorrect.

Statement (C) states the program's goal. It must not eliminate the incidence of significant complications after a stroke. The goal of this program is to reduce the incidence of major complications. The author states that the program can still achieve its goal even if some stroke victims experience major complications. Immediate medical emergencies can help these victims. Hence option (C) must be eliminated.

Option D: Incorrect.

Statement (C) states that the materials available on the Internet do not refer to the risk factors for a stroke that have been studied. This statement does not strongly suggest that the materials with patients do not have risk factors for stroke. So, option (D) has a limited extent. Hence the goal of the program cannot be met.

Option E: Incorrect.

Option (E) states that moving victims during a stroke to seek medical emergency can be troublesome. But for patients wearing devices that can be used to summon emergency assistance. This can further, has the potential for the obstacle to be removed. So, option (E) has a limited extent. Hence the goal of the program cannot be met.

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