The client has cancer and is being treated with chemotherapy. Over the course of the treatments, the client becomes very ill, is experiencing tremendous side effects from the therapy, and has a severe reduction in the quality of life. The specific ethical principle that is in question in this situation is:

A. Intractable pain refers to pain that is severe and persistent, difficult to control or manage despite treatment. It may be constant or intermittent but is generally not specific to a body part that has been amputated. Intractable pain is not typically used to describe pain specifically related to a phantom limb or residual limb pain after amputation.

B. Radiating pain is pain that spreads from its origin to another location in the body. It often follows the path of a nerve and can be associated with nerve compression or irritation. While radiating pain can occur in various conditions, it does not specifically describe the type of pain experienced in an amputated limb.

C. Phantom pain is perceived pain that feels like it is coming from a part of the body that has been amputated. It is a common phenomenon after limb amputation where the brain continues to receive pain signals from nerves that originally innervated the missing limb. Phantom pain is the correct term for the pain experienced by a client with a below-the-knee amputation who complains of pain in the right ankle. It is described as constant pain in the missing limb or part.

D. Referred pain is pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus or origin. It occurs because of shared neural pathways between different areas of the body. Referred pain is not typically used to describe pain specifically related to amputation or phantom limb pain.

A. Hyperkalemia can have significant cardiac effects, potentially leading to life-threatening arrhythmias such as bradycardia, heart block, ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation. As potassium levels rise, it affects the electrical conduction of the heart, leading to changes in the ECG (electrocardiogram) and potentially causing fatal arrhythmias.

B. While hyperkalemia primarily affects the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal symptoms can also occur. These may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, these symptoms are typically less severe compared to cardiac manifestations. Monitoring for gastrointestinal symptoms helps in assessing overall clinical status but is not as critical as assessing cardiac function in the context of hyperkalemia.

C. Respiratory symptoms are not typically associated with hyperkalemia unless severe acid-base disturbances are present. Potassium imbalance itself does not directly affect respiratory function. Therefore, while it is important to assess respiratory status in any client, it is not the priority in the context of hyperkalemia.

D. Hyperkalemia can affect the nervous system, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness, tingling sensations, and even paralysis in severe cases. However, neurologic symptoms usually occur at higher potassium levels or in the presence of significant electrolyte imbalances affecting nerve function.

Monitoring for neurologic symptoms is important but is generally secondary to assessing cardiac status in the context of approaching severe hyperkalemia.