Gre Argument

A new report suggests that men and women experience pain very differently from one another, and that doctors should consider these differences when prescribing pain medications. When researchers administered the same dosage of kappa opioids - a painkiller - to 28 men and 20 women who were having their wisdom teeth extracted, the women reported feeling much less pain than the men, and the easing of pain lasted considerably longer in women. This research suggests that kappa opioids should be prescribed for women whenever pain medication is required, whereas men should be given other kinds of pain medication. In addition, researchers should reevaluate the effects of all medications on men versus women.

In this report the author claims that doctors should consider differences in the way men and women experience pain when prescribing pain medications. To support his claim, the author provides the following evidence; A research that shows men and women who have their wisdom teeth extracted reporting different results when administered with the same dosage of kappa opioids--a painkiller. At first glance, the argument would seem persuasive; however, closer scrutiny of the argument reveals that it lacks appropriate support or evidence and is therefore problematic as it stands

First, it is unfair to assume that the given research that administers same dosage of kappa opioids to men and women can demonstrate differences in drug reactions between the two groups. Perhaps, the men and women had different average body mass and that same amount of painkiller has less effect on relatively heavier individuals. Without further information on the group characteristics of 28 men and 20 women, the claim sounds errorneous.

Second, even if we assume that body mass or other factors were controlled in the above research, the result does not necessarily support the author's claim. Maybe kappa opioids has certain chemical element that reacts more easily with female hormone. Also,...