Planning for end of life in the past and present: historical, legal and clinical perspectives on ReSPECT.

The ReSPECT ('Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment') process was developed in the UK to guide and document conversations and decision-making with patients and their relatives around intervention during critical deterioration. This includes advising whether resuscitation should be attempted when a person dies. Current medical preparation for death is qualitatively different to social behaviours by people in the past and presents some controversies when considering the legal status of death-related decisions.