During the SARS outbreak, approximately 23,500 doctors who treated SARS patients died, and about 23,670 doctors who did not treat SARS patients also died. Based on these figures, it was concluded that participating in SARS treatment was not significantly more dangerous than not participating.

Which of the following best exposes the flaw in this conclusion?

Question

During the SARS outbreak, approximately 23,500 doctors who treated SARS patients died, and about 23,670 doctors who did not treat SARS patients also died. Based on these figures, it was concluded that participating in SARS treatment was not significantly more dangerous than not participating.

Which of the following best exposes the flaw in this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

**Solution:**

1. The conclusion compares the total number of deaths in two groups of doctors: those who treated SARS patients and those who did not.

2. However, the total number of deaths alone does not provide a fair comparison because the sizes of the two groups are unknown and could be very different.

3. To accurately assess the risk, we need to compare the death rates, i.e., the number of deaths per thousand doctors in each group.

4. Option (d) suggests comparing death rates per thousand doctors in each group, which accounts for the size of each group and provides a meaningful comparison.

5. The other options do not address this fundamental issue of group size and mortality rate comparison.

**Answer:** Option (d)

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