There is much confusion and uncertainty about resuscitation within the field of palliative care. In the past, hospices adopted a blanket ‘no resuscitation’ policy which, with the advent of the Human Rights act, is now considered unethical. New recommendations by the Resuscitation Council, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing call for those patients who are suitable for resuscitation to be given the choice of opting in to such a programme. This article presents an audit of a new resuscitation policy and procedure recently introduced into the hospice setting.