ReSPECT Conversations: Building Confidence in End-of-Life Decision-Making

The ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) workshop is designed for healthcare professionals involved in later-life care, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.

This half-day, 4-hour session focuses on upskilling participants in conducting effective ReSPECT conversations with patients nearing the later stages of life. It will explore medico-legal aspects, offer strategies for navigating sensitive discussions, and ensure the accurate completion of associated documentation.

Workshop Objective: To enhance healthcare professionals’ ability to lead structured, compassionate, and legally compliant ReSPECT conversations, tailored to the context of later-life care.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:

• Understand the ReSPECT process and its legal framework: Gain a clear understanding of the ReSPECT process, its significance in patient care, and the key legal responsibilities for healthcare professionals when completing ReSPECT documentation.
• Recognise key issues in later-life ReSPECT conversations: Identify the unique needs and priorities of elderly and frail patients, including how to navigate complex co-morbidities, frailty, and psychosocial aspects in end-of-life discussions.
• Conduct sensitive and structured ReSPECT conversations: Develop confidence in preparing for and leading ReSPECT conversations that are sensitive to patient and family concerns, while ensuring that treatment preferences are clearly discussed and documented.
• Accurately complete ReSPECT documentation: Master the skills required to complete the ReSPECT document, ensuring all details are recorded with clarity and accuracy, in line with legal and clinical requirements.
• Navigate challenging situations in ReSPECT conversations: Handle conflicts, cultural considerations, and cases involving reduced decision-making capacity with sensitivity, ensuring that patient autonomy is respected while maintaining clinical judgment.
• Promote patient-centred decision-making: Engage in conversations that empower patients to make informed decisions about their emergency care and treatment, while involving families and carers appropriately.