Here we are being asked to help Pamela counter Quincy's argument that we shouldn't change how physicians are trained today because this is how thousands of physicians have been trained in the past and they have generally made good medical decisions during their training period.
Let's take a look at the answer choices:
(A) actually seems to strengthen Quincy's argument by pointing out that the responsibilities of resident staff physicians in hospitals also have not changed substantially over the past few decades. If their responsibilities have not changed, why should we change their training, especially if this training has been successful?
(B) weakens Quincy's argument by pointing out a difference between today and the past that would seem to point out why what has worked in the past might not work today. If patients in hospitals today are, on the average, more seriously ill during their stays than in the past, then the importance of resident physicians making the best medical decisions is heightened. As such, (B) would be the CORRECT answer.
(C) has no impact on this argument since we have no reason to believe that this continuity of physician care would be different if we continue training physicians like we have in the past.
(D) is completely irrelevant and, as such, has no impact on Quincy's argument.
(E) seems to strengthen Quincy's argument by pointing out another reason why requiring physicians training for a medical specialty need to work such long hours.
Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
