ReSPECT stands for Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment. The ReSPECT process creates a summary of personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care in a future emergency in which they are not able to make decisions or to express wishes. The process is intended to respect both patient preferences and clinical judgement.
The ReSPECT form is a simple, effective and widely used means of capturing a summary of a patient’s wishes. It is designed to be brief, and this can mean that for some people it feels a little blunt. This guide for the public has been designed by Hertfordshire GP Dr Julia Morgan in conjunction with Isabel hospice education leads, to promote dignity and person-centred decision-making. This form has been designed for the patient and their family ahead of a conversation with a healthcare professional, making it easier to discuss and complete the ReSPECT form.
The ReSPECT form is produced by the Resuscitation Council, whose website has more information and resources for both professionals and the public.