A nurse is caring for a client who is dying of metastatic breast cancer. She has a prescription for an opioid pain medication PRN. The nurse is concerned that administering a dose of pain medication might hasten the client's death. Which of the following ethical principles should the nurse use to support the decision not to administer the medication?

A. "Crushing the medication might cause you to have a stomachache or indigestion."
This response provides a potential adverse effect of crushing the medication but does not directly address the reason why the aspirin should not be crushed.
B. "Crushing the medication is a good idea, and I can mix it in some ice cream for you."
This response suggests a solution to the client's difficulty swallowing medication but does not address the safety or efficacy concerns associated with crushing enteric-coated aspirin.
C. "Crushing is unsafe, as it destroys the ingredients in the medication."
While crushing enteric-coated aspirin may alter its release properties, it does not necessarily "destroy" the ingredients. This statement may be too absolute and not entirely accurate.
D. "Crushing the medication would release all the medication at once, rather than over time."
This response accurately explains why enteric-coated aspirin should not be crushed. Enteric coating is designed to prevent dissolution of the medication in the stomach and instead release it in the small intestine to reduce the risk of gastric irritation or ulceration. Crushing the medication would bypass this delayed release mechanism, potentially leading to increased gastric irritation or adverse effects.

A. Erythema (redness) and edema (swelling) of the affected ear are classic signs of otitis media, an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. In otitis media, the middle ear becomes inflamed and fluid accumulates behind the eardrum, leading to redness and swelling of the tympanic membrane and surrounding tissues.
B. Tugging on the affected ear lobe is a common behavior observed in children with otitis media. Ear pulling or rubbing is often a sign of ear pain or discomfort, which can result from the pressure caused by the accumulation of fluid and inflammation in the middle ear.
C. Pain when manipulating the affected ear lobe is another common symptom of otitis media. Children with this condition may experience tenderness or discomfort when the affected ear is touched or manipulated due to the underlying inflammation and infection.
D. Clear drainage from the affected ear is not typically associated with otitis media. Instead, otitis media is characterized by the presence of middle ear effusion, which may manifest as fluid behind the eardrum. The drainage from otitis media is more commonly serous or purulent rather than clear.