A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early retirement rather than face the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.
had elected early retirement rather than face
had elected early retirement instead of facing
have elected retiring early instead of facing
have elected to retire early rather than facing
have elected to retire early rather than face
instead of + Noun.
rather than + 句子
have elected to do A rahter than (to) do B1 ...and B2..