Question

As many as 98,000 people die each year due to medical error. In a campaign to reduce lethal errors, thousands of hospitals introduced six key changes, including rapid-response teams, re-checks of patient medication, and new guidelines for preventing infection. The campaign estimated that, over an 18-month period, more than 100,000 lives were saved as a direct result of the program.

Which of the following can be most properly inferred from the above statements?

• A. Doctors and nurses should be more careful when doing their jobs.
• B. The campaign saved all of the people who otherwise would have died due to medical error in that time period.
• C. In the future, no one will die because of medical error.
• D. If the campaign had not been implemented, more than 100,000 people might have died during the 18-month period due to medical error.
• E. The key changes initiated by the campaign will continue to be implemented in the future.

Answer 1

The correct option is D If the campaign had not been implemented, more than 100,000 people might have died during the 18-month period due to medical error.

Between A and D we cant say for sure if doctors and nurses were not careful..moreover "should be more careful" indicate as if fatalities arose as a result of carelessness only..we are not sure for this as well.
Left with D - it rightly says that '100,000 might have died' which is mild in its tone, and hence the answer.