Patient and caregiver characteristics related to completion of advance directives in terminally ill patients.

Objective: There is a growing body of literature describing the characteristics of patients who plan for the end of life, but little research has examined how caregivers influence patients' advance care planning (ACP). The purpose of this study was to examine how patient and caregiver characteristics are associated with advance directive (AD) completion among patients diagnosed with a terminal illness. We defined AD completion as having completed a living will and/or identified a healthcare power of attorney.

Endolymphatic sac tumor and otalgia.

Otalgia is a common complaint seen by general practitioners, but its etiology is vast. Rarely, otalgia could be secondary to a neoplasm. We describe a case of otalgia and ear discharge in which the imaging revealed a rare neoplasm, an endolymphatic sac tumor, which contributed to the patient's symptoms.